Device, method, and graphical user interface for moving and dropping a user interface object

ABSTRACT

An electronic device detects a contact associated with a focus selector that controls movement of a respective user interface object; and while continuously detecting the contact, the device detects first movement of the contact. In response to detecting the first movement of the contact, the device moves the focus selector and the respective user interface object, and determines an intensity of the contact. The device detects second movement of the contact and in response to detecting the second movement of the contact: when the contact meets respective intensity criteria, the device moves the focus selector and the user interface object; and when the contact does not meet the respective intensity criteria, the device moves the focus selector without moving the user interface object.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/536,291, filed Nov. 7, 2014, which is a continuation of PCT PatentApplication Serial No. PCT/US2013/040108, filed on May 8, 2013, entitled“Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving and Dropping aUser Interface Object,” which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,414, filed on Mar. 13,2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Movingand Dropping a User Interface Object;” U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/747,278, filed Dec. 29, 2012, entitled “Device,Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating User InterfaceObjects with Visual and/or Haptic Feedback;” and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/688,227, filed May 9, 2012, entitled “Device, Method,and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating User Interface Objectswith Visual and/or Haptic Feedback,” which applications are incorporatedby reference herein in their entireties.

This application is also related to the following: U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/778,092, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled“Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Selecting Objectwithin a Group of Objects;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/778,125, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Navigating User Interface Hierarchies;”U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,156, filed on Mar.12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface forManipulating Framed Graphical Objects;” U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/778,179, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled“Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Scrolling NestedRegions;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,171, filedon Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interfacefor Displaying Additional Information in Response to a User Contact;”U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,191, filed on Mar.12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface forDisplaying User Interface Objects Corresponding to an Application;” U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,211, filed on Mar. 12,2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface forFacilitating User Interaction with Controls in a User Interface;” U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,239, filed on Mar. 12,2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface forForgoing Generation of Tactile Output for a Multi-Contact Gesture;” U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,284, filed on Mar. 12,2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface forProviding Tactile Feedback for Operations Performed in a UserInterface;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,287,filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical UserInterface for Providing Feedback for Changing Activation States of aUser Interface Object;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/778,363, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Transitioning between Touch Input toDisplay Output Relationships;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/778,367, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Moving a User Interface Object Based on anIntensity of a Press Input;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/778,265, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Transitioning between Display States inResponse to a Gesture;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/778,373, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Managing Activation of a Control Based onContact Intensity;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/778,412, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Displaying Content Associated with aCorresponding Affordance;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/778,413, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Selecting User Interface Objects;” U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,416, filed on Mar. 13,2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface forDetermining Whether to Scroll or Select Content;” and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/778,418, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled“Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Switching between UserInterfaces,” which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

This application is also related to the following: U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/645,033, filed on May 9, 2012, entitled“Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices;” U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/665,603, filed on Jun. 28, 2012, entitled“Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices;” and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/681,098, filed on Aug. 8, 2012, entitled“Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices,” which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates generally to electronic devices with touch-sensitivesurfaces, including but not limited to electronic devices withtouch-sensitive surfaces that detect inputs for manipulating userinterfaces.

BACKGROUND

The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers andother electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recentyears. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces include touch pads and touchscreen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate userinterface objects on a display.

Exemplary manipulations include adjusting the position and/or size ofone or more user interface objects or activating buttons or openingfiles/applications represented by user interface objects, as well asassociating metadata with one or more user interface objects orotherwise manipulating user interfaces. Exemplary user interface objectsinclude digital images, video, text, icons, control elements such asbuttons and other graphics. A user will, in some circumstances, need toperform such manipulations on user interface objects in a filemanagement program (e.g., Finder from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.),an image management application (e.g., Aperture or iPhoto from AppleInc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a digital content (e.g., videos and music)management application (e.g., iTunes from Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif.), a drawing application, a presentation application (e.g.,Keynote from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a word processingapplication (e.g., Pages from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), awebsite creation application (e.g., iWeb from Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif.), a disk authoring application (e.g., iDVD from Apple Inc. ofCupertino, Calif.), or a spreadsheet application (e.g., Numbers fromApple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.).

But existing methods for performing these manipulations are cumbersomeand inefficient. In addition, existing methods take longer thannecessary, thereby wasting energy. This latter consideration isparticularly important in battery-operated devices.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for electronic devices with faster, moreefficient methods and interfaces for manipulating user interfaces. Suchmethods and interfaces optionally complement or replace conventionalmethods for manipulating user interfaces. Such methods and interfacesreduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficienthuman-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods andinterfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.

The above deficiencies and other problems associated with userinterfaces for electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces arereduced or eliminated by the disclosed devices. In some embodiments, thedevice is a desktop computer. In some embodiments, the device isportable (e.g., a notebook computer, tablet computer, or handhelddevice). In some embodiments, the device has a touchpad. In someembodiments, the device has a touch-sensitive display (also known as a“touch screen” or “touch screen display”). In some embodiments, thedevice has a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors,memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions storedin the memory for performing multiple functions. In some embodiments,the user interacts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts andgestures on the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, thefunctions optionally include image editing, drawing, presenting, wordprocessing, website creating, disk authoring, spreadsheet making, gameplaying, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging,workout support, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing,digital music playing, and/or digital video playing. Executableinstructions for performing these functions are, optionally, included ina non-transitory computer readable storage medium or other computerprogram product configured for execution by one or more processors.

There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficientmethods and interfaces for previewing and selecting content items. Suchmethods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methodsfor previewing and selecting content items. Such methods and interfacesreduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficienthuman-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods andinterfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at anelectronic device with a touch-sensitive surface and a display, wherethe device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contactswith the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes displaying acontent field on the display and detecting a contact on thetouch-sensitive surface, where the contact corresponds to a focusselector on the display. The method further includes, while continuouslydetecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, detecting a pressinput that includes an increase in intensity of the contact above arespective intensity threshold while the focus selector is over thecontent field, and in response to detecting the press input, displayinga content menu that includes representations of a plurality of optionsthat correspond to content items. The method also includes, whilecontinuously detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, andwhile displaying the content menu, detecting movement of the contactthat corresponds to movement of the focus selector over a representationof a first content item in the content menu, and in response to thefocus selector being over the representation of the first content itemin the content menu, displaying a preview of the first content item inthe content field. The method further includes detecting a confirmationinput while the focus selector associated with the contact is over therepresentation of the first content item in the content menu and, inresponse to detecting the confirmation input, inserting the firstcontent item into the content field.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes adisplay unit configured to display a content field, a touch-sensitivesurface unit configured to receive user contacts, one or more sensorunits configured to detect intensity of contacts with thetouch-sensitive surface unit, and a processing unit coupled to thedisplay unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the sensor units.The processing unit is configured to detect a contact on thetouch-sensitive surface unit, where the contact corresponds to a focusselector on the display unit and, while continuously detecting thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface, detect a press input thatincludes an increase in intensity of the contact above a respectiveintensity threshold while the focus selector is over the content field,and in response to detecting the press input, enable display of acontent menu that includes representations of a plurality of optionsthat correspond to content items. The processing unit is alsoconfigured, while continuously detecting the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface, and while displaying the content menu, todetect movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focusselector over a representation of a first content item in the contentmenu, and in response to the focus selector being over therepresentation of the first content item in the content menu, enabledisplay of a preview of the first content item in the content field. Theprocessing unit is further configured to detect a confirmation inputwhile the focus selector associated with the contact is over therepresentation of the first content item in the content menu and, inresponse to detecting the confirmation input, insert the first contentitem into the content field.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and oneor more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitivesurface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfacesfor previewing and selecting content items, thereby increasing theeffectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Suchmethods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methodsfor previewing and selecting content items.

There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficientmethods and interfaces for moving and dropping a user interface object.Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventionalmethods for moving and dropping a user interface object. Such methodsand interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a moreefficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, suchmethods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time betweenbattery charges.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at anelectronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one ormore sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitivesurface. The method includes: detecting a contact with thetouch-sensitive surface, wherein the contact is associated with a focusselector that controls movement of a respective user interface objectthat is currently selected; and while continuously detecting the contacton the touch-sensitive surface: detecting first movement of the contactacross the touch-sensitive surface corresponding to movement of thefocus selector toward a respective location; in response to detectingthe first movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface:moving the focus selector on the display in accordance with the firstmovement of the contact and moving the respective user interface objectin accordance with the movement of the focus selector, and determiningan intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface while thefocus selector is at the respective location on the display; detectingsecond movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface thatcorresponds to movement of the focus selector away from the respectivelocation; and in response to detecting the second movement of thecontact across the touch-sensitive surface: in accordance with adetermination that the contact meets respective intensity criteria,moving the focus selector and the user interface object in accordancewith the second movement of the contact across the touch-sensitivesurface; and in accordance with a determination that the contact doesnot meet the respective intensity criteria, moving the focus selector inaccordance with the second movement of the contact across thetouch-sensitive surface without moving the user interface object.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes adisplay unit; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receivecontacts; one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity ofcontacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unitcoupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and thesensor units. The processing unit is configured to: detect a contactwith the touch-sensitive surface unit, wherein the contact is associatedwith a focus selector that controls movement of a respective userinterface object that is currently selected; and while continuouslydetecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit: detect firstmovement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface unitcorresponding to movement of the focus selector toward a respectivelocation; in response to detecting the first movement of the contactacross the touch-sensitive surface unit: move the focus selector on thedisplay unit in accordance with the first movement of the contact andmove the respective user interface object in accordance with themovement of the focus selector, and determine an intensity of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface unit while the focus selector isat the respective location on the display unit; detect second movementof the contact across the touch-sensitive surface unit that correspondsto movement of the focus selector away from the respective location; andin response to detecting the second movement of the contact across thetouch-sensitive surface unit: in accordance with a determination thatthe contact meets respective intensity criteria, move the focus selectorand the user interface object in accordance with the second movement ofthe contact across the touch-sensitive surface unit; and in accordancewith a determination that the contact does not meet the respectiveintensity criteria, move the focus selector in accordance with thesecond movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface unitwithout moving the user interface object.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces, andone or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with thetouch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methodsand interfaces for moving and dropping a user interface object, therebyincreasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction withsuch devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replaceconventional methods for moving and dropping a user interface object.

There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficientmethods and interfaces for performing an operation in accordance with aselected mode of operation. Such methods and interfaces may complementor replace conventional methods for performing an operation inaccordance with a selected mode of operation. Such methods andinterfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a moreefficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, suchmethods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time betweenbattery charges.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at anelectronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one ormore sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitivesurface. The method includes: displaying, on the display, a userinterface for the electronic device; detecting a sequence of inputs onthe touch-sensitive surface, where detecting the sequence of inputsincludes detecting changes in characteristics of a respective contactthat is continuously detected on the touch-sensitive surface during thesequence of inputs, the sequence of inputs includes a first input and asecond input, the first input includes detecting an increase inintensity of the respective contact, and the second input includesdetecting movement of the respective contact on the touch-sensitivesurface. The method further includes, in response to detecting the firstinput: in accordance with a determination that the first input does notinclude increasing the intensity of the respective contact above amode-selection intensity threshold, operating in a first mode ofoperation during the second input, and in accordance with adetermination that the first input includes increasing the intensity ofthe respective contact above the mode-selection intensity threshold,operating in a second mode of operation, distinct from the first mode ofoperation, during the second input; and in response to detecting thesecond input, performing an operation in accordance with the secondinput based at least in part on whether the device is operating in thefirst mode of operation or the second mode of operation.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes adisplay unit configured to display a user interface for the electronicdevice, a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive inputs, oneor more sensors configured to detect intensity of contacts with thetouch-sensitive surface unit, and a processing unit coupled to thedisplay unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the sensors. Theprocessing unit is configured to: detect a sequence of inputs on thetouch-sensitive surface unit, where detecting the sequence of inputsincludes detecting changes in characteristics of a respective contactthat is continuously detected on the touch-sensitive surface unit duringthe sequence of inputs, the sequence of inputs includes a first inputand a second input, the first input includes detecting an increase inintensity of the respective contact, and the second input includesdetecting movement of the respective contact on the touch-sensitivesurface unit. The processing unit is further configured to, in responseto detecting the first input: in accordance with a determination thatthe first input does not include increasing the intensity of therespective contact above a mode-selection intensity threshold, operatein a first mode of operation during the second input, and in accordancewith a determination that the first input includes increasing theintensity of the respective contact above the mode-selection intensitythreshold, operate in a second mode of operation, distinct from thefirst mode of operation, during the second input; and in response todetecting the second input, perform an operation in accordance with thesecond input based at least in part on whether the device is operatingin the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces, andone or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with thetouch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methodsand interfaces for performing an operation in accordance with a selectedmode of operation, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, anduser satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces maycomplement or replace conventional methods for performing an operationin accordance with a selected mode of operation.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes adisplay, a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors todetect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, one ormore processors, memory, and one or more programs; the one or moreprograms are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by theone or more processors and the one or more programs include instructionsfor performing the operations of any of the methods referred to in thefifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments. In accordance withsome embodiments, a graphical user interface on an electronic devicewith a display, a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or moresensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitivesurface, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or moreprograms stored in the memory includes one or more of the elementsdisplayed in any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph ofthe Description of Embodiments, which are updated in response to inputs,as described in any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph ofthe Description of Embodiments. In accordance with some embodiments, acomputer readable storage medium has stored therein instructions whichwhen executed by an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitivesurface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity ofcontacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to performthe operations of any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraphof the Description of Embodiments. In accordance with some embodiments,an electronic device includes: a display, a touch-sensitive surface, andoptionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with thetouch-sensitive surface; and means for performing the operations of anyof the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph of the Description ofEmbodiments. In accordance with some embodiments, an informationprocessing apparatus, for use in an electronic device with a display anda touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detectintensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, includes meansfor performing the operations of any of the methods referred to in thefifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments,reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, inconjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numeralsrefer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a portable multifunction devicewith a touch-sensitive display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touch screenin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu ofapplications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary user interface for a multifunctiondevice with a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the displayin accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5N illustrate exemplary user interfaces for previewing andselecting content items in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-6C are flow diagrams illustrating a method of previewing andselecting content items in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-8J illustrate exemplary user interfaces for moving and droppinga user interface object in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9C are flow diagrams illustrating a method of moving anddropping a user interface object in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 11A-11W illustrate exemplary user interfaces for performing anoperation in accordance with a selected mode of operation in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIGS. 12A-12D are flow diagrams illustrating a method of performing anoperation in accordance with a selected mode of operation in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device inaccordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The methods, devices and GUIs described herein provide visual and/orhaptic feedback that makes manipulation of user interface objects moreefficient and intuitive for a user. For example, in a system where theclicking action of a trackpad is decoupled from the contact intensity(e.g., contact force, contact pressure, or a substitute therefore) thatis needed to reach an activation threshold, the device can generatedifferent tactile outputs (e.g., “different clicks”) for differentactivation events (e.g., so that clicks that accomplish a particularresult are differentiated from clicks that do not produce any result orthat accomplish a different result from the particular result).Additionally, tactile outputs can be generated in response to otherevents that are not related to increasing intensity of a contact, suchas generating a tactile output (e.g., a “detent”) when a user interfaceobject is moved to a particular position, boundary or orientation, orwhen an event occurs at the device.

Additionally, in a system where a trackpad or touch-screen display issensitive to a range of contact intensity that includes more than one ortwo specific intensity values (e.g., more than a simple on/off, binaryintensity determination), the user interface can provide responses(e.g., visual or tactile cues) that are indicative of the intensity ofthe contact within the range. In some implementations, apre-activation-threshold response and/or a post-activation-thresholdresponse to an input are displayed as continuous animations. As oneexample of such a response, a preview of an operation is displayed inresponse to detecting an increase in contact intensity that is stillbelow an activation threshold for performing the operation. As anotherexample of such a response, an animation associated with an operationcontinues even after the activation threshold for the operation has beenreached. Both of these examples provide a user with a continuousresponse to the force or pressure of a user's contact, which provides auser with visual and/or haptic feedback that is richer and moreintuitive. More specifically, such continuous force responses give theuser the experience of being able to press lightly to preview anoperation and/or press deeply to push “past” or “through” a predefineduser interface state corresponding to the operation.

Additionally, for a device with a touch-sensitive surface that issensitive to a range of contact intensity, multiple contact intensitythresholds can be monitored by the device and different functions can bemapped to different contact intensity thresholds. This serves toincrease the available “gesture space” providing easy access to advancedfeatures for users who know that increasing the intensity of a contactat or beyond a second “deep press” intensity threshold will cause thedevice to perform a different operation from an operation that would beperformed if the intensity of the contact is between a first“activation” intensity threshold and the second “deep press” intensitythreshold. An advantage of assigning additional functionality to asecond “deep press” intensity threshold while maintaining familiarfunctionality at a first “activation” intensity threshold is thatinexperienced users who are, in some circumstances, confused by theadditional functionality can use the familiar functionality by justapplying an intensity up to the first “activation” intensity threshold,whereas more experienced users can take advantage of the additionalfunctionality by applying an intensity at the second “deep press”intensity threshold.

Additionally, for a device with a touch-sensitive surface that issensitive to a range of contact intensity, the device can provideadditional functionality by allowing users to perform complex operationswith a single continuous contact. For example, when selecting a group ofobjects, a user can move a continuous contact around the touch-sensitivesurface and can press while dragging (e.g., applying an intensitygreater than a “deep press” intensity threshold) to add additionalelements to a selection. In this way, a user can intuitively interactwith a user interface where pressing harder with a contact causesobjects in the user interface to be “stickier.”

A number of different approaches to providing an intuitive userinterface on a device where a clicking action is decoupled from theforce that is needed to reach an activation threshold and/or the deviceis sensitive to a wide range of contact intensities are described below.Using one or more of these approaches (optionally in conjunction witheach other) helps to provide a user interface that intuitively providesusers with additional information and functionality, thereby reducingthe user's cognitive burden and improving the human-machine interface.Such improvements in the human-machine interface enable users to use thedevice faster and more efficiently. For battery-operated devices, theseimprovements conserve power and increase the time between batterycharges. For ease of explanation, systems, methods and user interfacesfor including illustrative examples of some of these approaches aredescribed below, as follows:

-   -   Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that        display content items (e.g., a photo in a photo album). Content        items can be customized in various ways, including, for example,        selecting, previewing or rearranging photos within a photo        album. Such operations often require multiple sequential inputs,        which can be time consuming and confusing for users. The        embodiments described below provide a convenient and intuitive        method of previewing content items and selecting previewed        content items in accordance with an intensity of a contact. In        particular, FIGS. 5A-5N illustrate exemplary user interfaces for        previewing and selecting (e.g., in accordance with user inputs        on a touch-sensitive surface) content items corresponding to a        content field in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 6A-6C        are flow diagrams illustrating a method of previewing and        selecting (e.g., in accordance with user inputs on a        touch-sensitive surface) content items corresponding to a        content field in accordance with some embodiments. The user        interfaces in FIGS. 5A-5N are further used to illustrate the        processes described below with reference to FIGS. 6A-6C.    -   Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that        allow a user to move a user interface object, such as an icon.        Sometimes, a user will be required to perform multiple        sequential input operations to move a user interface object such        as clicking, dragging, and unclicking to drop. This can be        time-consuming, confusing, and disruptive to a user's        interaction with the device. The embodiments described below        provide a convenient and intuitive method of moving user        interface objects and ceasing to move user interface objects        based on intensity of a continuously detected contact, thereby        providing a more convenient and intuitive user interface for        moving user interface objects. In particular, FIGS. 8A-8J        illustrate exemplary user interfaces for moving and dropping a        user interface object. FIGS. 9A-9C are flow diagrams        illustrating a method of moving and dropping a user interface        object. The user interfaces in FIGS. 8A-8J are used to        illustrate the processes in FIGS. 9A-9C.    -   Many electronic devices have user interfaces in which multiple        operations are, optionally, performed with a same type of        gesture. In some situations, a user can switch between modes of        operation by selecting a different mode from a menu of options        or making a second contact in addition to the gesture for        activating the operation. However, these approaches to switching        between modes of operation are inefficient and confusing and can        be difficult for users to remember. The embodiments described        below provide a convenient and intuitive method of switching        between different modes of operation by selecting the mode of        operation in accordance with an intensity of an input on a        touch-sensitive surface. Below, FIGS. 11A-11W illustrate        exemplary user interfaces for performing an operation in        accordance with a selected mode of operation. FIGS. 12A-12D are        flow diagrams illustrating a method of performing an operation        in accordance with a selected mode of operation. The user        interfaces in FIGS. 11A-11W are used to illustrate the processes        in FIGS. 12A-12D.

Exemplary Devices

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However,it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the variousdescribed embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components,circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, theseelements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contactcould be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact couldbe termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of thevarious described embodiments. The first contact and the second contactare both contacts, but they are not the same contact.

The terminology used in the description of the various describedembodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in thedescription of the various described embodiments and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when”or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,”depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or“if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construedto mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upondetecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting[the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.

Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, andassociated processes for using such devices are described. In someembodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as amobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunctiondevices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad®devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronicdevices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitivesurfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), are,optionally, used. It should also be understood that, in someembodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but isa desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screendisplay and/or a touch pad).

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device optionally includes oneor more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physicalkeyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one ormore of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

The various applications that are executed on the device optionally useat least one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the deviceare, optionally, adjusted and/or varied from one application to the nextand/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physicalarchitecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the deviceoptionally supports the variety of applications with user interfacesthat are intuitive and transparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices withtouch-sensitive displays. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustratingportable multifunction device 100 with touch-sensitive displays 112 inaccordance with some embodiments. Touch-sensitive display 112 issometimes called a “touch screen” for convenience, and is sometimesknown as or called a touch-sensitive display system. Device 100 includesmemory 102 (which optionally includes one or more computer readablestorage mediums), memory controller 122, one or more processing units(CPU's) 120, peripherals interface 118, RF circuitry 108, audiocircuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 113, input/output (I/O) subsystem106, other input or control devices 116, and external port 124. Device100 optionally includes one or more optical sensors 164. Device 100optionally includes one or more intensity sensors 165 for detectingintensity of contacts on device 100 (e.g., a touch-sensitive surfacesuch as touch-sensitive display system 112 of device 100). Device 100optionally includes one or more tactile output generators 167 forgenerating tactile outputs on device 100 (e.g., generating tactileoutputs on a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive displaysystem 112 of device 100 or touchpad 355 of device 300). Thesecomponents optionally communicate over one or more communication busesor signal lines 103.

As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of acontact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure(force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on the touchsensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) for the force or pressureof a contact on the touch sensitive surface. The intensity of a contacthas a range of values that includes at least four distinct values andmore typically includes hundreds of distinct values (e.g., at least256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined (or measured)using various approaches and various sensors or combinations of sensors.For example, one or more force sensors underneath or adjacent to thetouch-sensitive surface are, optionally, used to measure force atvarious points on the touch-sensitive surface. In some implementations,force measurements from multiple force sensors are combined (e.g., aweighted average) to determine an estimated force of a contact.Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of a stylus is, optionally, used todetermine a pressure of the stylus on the touch-sensitive surface.Alternatively, the size of the contact area detected on thetouch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, the capacitance of thetouch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto,and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to thecontact and/or changes thereto are, optionally, used as a substitute forthe force or pressure of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. Insome implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force orpressure are used directly to determine whether an intensity thresholdhas been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is described in unitscorresponding to the substitute measurements). In some implementations,the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are convertedto an estimated force or pressure and the estimated force or pressure isused to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded(e.g., the intensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in unitsof pressure).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output”refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previousposition of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component(e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relativeto a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user withthe user's sense of touch. For example, in situations where the deviceor the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a userthat is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of auser's hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacementwill be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding toa perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or thecomponent of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally,interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physicalactuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensationsuch as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement ofa physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surfacethat is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user's movements. Asanother example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally,interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitivesurface, even when there is no change in smoothness of thetouch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a userwill be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user,there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a largemajority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described ascorresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “upclick,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, thegenerated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of thedevice or a component thereof that will generate the described sensoryperception for a typical (or average) user.

It should be appreciated that device 100 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 100 optionally has moreor fewer components than shown, optionally combines two or morecomponents, or optionally has a different configuration or arrangementof the components. The various components shown in FIG. 1A areimplemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware andsoftware, including one or more signal processing and/or applicationspecific integrated circuits.

Memory 102 optionally includes high-speed random access memory andoptionally also includes non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory 102 by othercomponents of device 100, such as CPU 120 and the peripherals interface118, is, optionally, controlled by memory controller 122.

Peripherals interface 118 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or moreprocessors 120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 102 to perform various functions fordevice 100 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 118, CPU 120, and memorycontroller 122 are, optionally, implemented on a single chip, such aschip 104. In some other embodiments, they are, optionally, implementedon separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 optionally includes well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 108 optionally communicates with networks, such as theInternet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranetand/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, awireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network(MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wirelesscommunication optionally uses any of a plurality of communicationsstandards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited toGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA),high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO),HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), nearfield communication (NFC), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a,IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet messageaccess protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instantmessaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP),Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and PresenceLeveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service(IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitablecommunication protocol, including communication protocols not yetdeveloped as of the filing date of this document.

Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 113 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 100. Audio circuitry 110 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 118, converts the audio data to anelectrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 111.Speaker 111 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves.Audio circuitry 110 also receives electrical signals converted bymicrophone 113 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 118 for processing. Audio data is, optionally,retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 102 and/or RF circuitry 108by peripherals interface 118. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 110also includes a headset jack (e.g., 212, FIG. 2). The headset jackprovides an interface between audio circuitry 110 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on device 100, suchas touch screen 112 and other input control devices 116, to peripheralsinterface 118. I/O subsystem 106 optionally includes display controller156, optical sensor controller 158, intensity sensor controller 159,haptic feedback controller 161 and one or more input controllers 160 forother input or control devices. The one or more input controllers 160receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices116. The other input control devices 116 optionally include physicalbuttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, sliderswitches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternateembodiments, input controller(s) 160 are, optionally, coupled to any (ornone) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and apointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 208, FIG.2) optionally include an up/down button for volume control of speaker111 and/or microphone 113. The one or more buttons optionally include apush button (e.g., 206, FIG. 2).

Touch-sensitive display 112 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 156 receivesand/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 112. Touch screen112 displays visual output to the user. The visual output optionallyincludes graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof(collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all ofthe visual output corresponds to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensorsthat accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact.Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 (along with any associatedmodules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detect contact (andany movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen 112 andconverts the detected contact into interaction with user-interfaceobjects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) thatare displayed on touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, a pointof contact between touch screen 112 and the user corresponds to a fingerof the user.

Touch screen 112 optionally uses LCD (liquid crystal display)technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED(light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologiesare used in other embodiments. Touch screen 112 and display controller156 optionally detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof usingany of a plurality of touch sensing technologies now known or laterdeveloped, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared,and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximitysensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points ofcontact with touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, projectedmutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in theiPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Touch screen 112 optionally has a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi.In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution ofapproximately 160 dpi. The user optionally makes contact with touchscreen 112 using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, afinger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface isdesigned to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures,which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger areaof contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, thedevice translates the rough finger-based input into a precisepointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired bythe user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 100optionally includes a touchpad (not shown) for activating ordeactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad isa touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, doesnot display visual output. The touchpad is, optionally, atouch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen 112 or anextension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

Device 100 also includes power system 162 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 162 optionally includes a power managementsystem, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current(AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a powerconverter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emittingdiode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more optical sensors 164.FIG. 1A shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 158in I/O subsystem 106. Optical sensor 164 optionally includescharge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor 164 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 143(also called a camera module), optical sensor 164 optionally capturesstill images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is locatedon the back of device 100, opposite touch screen display 112 on thefront of the device, so that the touch screen display is enabled for useas a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of thedevice so that the user's image is, optionally, obtained forvideoconferencing while the user views the other video conferenceparticipants on the touch screen display.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more contact intensitysensors 165. FIG. 1A shows a contact intensity sensor coupled tointensity sensor controller 159 in I/O subsystem 106. Contact intensitysensor 165 optionally includes one or more piezoresistive strain gauges,capacitive force sensors, electric force sensors, piezoelectric forcesensors, optical force sensors, capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces, orother intensity sensors (e.g., sensors used to measure the force (orpressure) of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface). Contact intensitysensor 165 receives contact intensity information (e.g., pressureinformation or a proxy for pressure information) from the environment.In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is collocatedwith, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitivedisplay system 112). In some embodiments, at least one contact intensitysensor is located on the back of device 100, opposite touch screendisplay 112 which is located on the front of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more proximity sensors 166.FIG. 1A shows proximity sensor 166 coupled to peripherals interface 118.Alternately, proximity sensor 166 is coupled to input controller 160 inI/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns offand disables touch screen 112 when the multifunction device is placednear the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more tactile outputgenerators 167. FIG. 1A shows a tactile output generator coupled tohaptic feedback controller 161 in I/O subsystem 106. Tactile outputgenerator 167 optionally includes one or more electroacoustic devicessuch as speakers or other audio components and/or electromechanicaldevices that convert energy into linear motion such as a motor,solenoid, electroactive polymer, piezoelectric actuator, electrostaticactuator, or other tactile output generating component (e.g., acomponent that converts electrical signals into tactile outputs on thedevice). Contact intensity sensor 165 receives tactile feedbackgeneration instructions from haptic feedback module 133 and generatestactile outputs on device 100 that are capable of being sensed by a userof device 100. In some embodiments, at least one tactile outputgenerator is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112) and, optionally, generates atactile output by moving the touch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g.,in/out of a surface of device 100) or laterally (e.g., back and forth inthe same plane as a surface of device 100). In some embodiments, atleast one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back ofdevice 100, opposite touch screen display 112 which is located on thefront of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more accelerometers 168. FIG.1A shows accelerometer 168 coupled to peripherals interface 118.Alternately, accelerometer 168 is, optionally, coupled to an inputcontroller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, information isdisplayed on the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscapeview based on an analysis of data received from the one or moreaccelerometers. Device 100 optionally includes, in addition toaccelerometer(s) 168, a magnetometer (not shown) and a GPS (or GLONASSor other global navigation system) receiver (not shown) for obtaininginformation concerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait orlandscape) of device 100.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102include operating system 126, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 128, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130,graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, text input module (or setof instructions) 134, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions) 135, and applications (or sets of instructions) 136.Furthermore, in some embodiments memory 102 stores device/globalinternal state 157, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 3. Device/global internalstate 157 includes one or more of: active application state, indicatingwhich applications, if any, are currently active; display state,indicating what applications, views or other information occupy variousregions of touch screen display 112; sensor state, including informationobtained from the device's various sensors and input control devices116; and location information concerning the device's location and/orattitude.

Operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, oran embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various softwarecomponents and/or drivers for controlling and managing general systemtasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

Communication module 128 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 124 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 108 and/orexternal port 124. External port 124 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB),FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices orindirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). Insome embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects contact with touch screen112 (in conjunction with display controller 156) and other touchsensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel).Contact/motion module 130 includes various software components forperforming various operations related to detection of contact, such asdetermining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-downevent), determining an intensity of the contact (e.g., the force orpressure of the contact or a substitute for the force or pressure of thecontact) determining if there is movement of the contact and trackingthe movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one ormore finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased(e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact).Contact/motion module 130 receives contact data from the touch-sensitivesurface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which isrepresented by a series of contact data, optionally includes determiningspeed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or anacceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point ofcontact. These operations are, optionally, applied to single contacts(e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments,contact/motion module 130 and display controller 156 detect contact on atouchpad.

In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 uses a set of one or moreintensity thresholds to determine whether an operation has beenperformed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has “clicked” onan icon). In some embodiments at least a subset of the intensitythresholds are determined in accordance with software parameters (e.g.,the intensity thresholds are not determined by the activation thresholdsof particular physical actuators and can be adjusted without changingthe physical hardware of device 100). For example, a mouse “click”threshold of a trackpad or touch screen display can be set to any of alarge range of predefined thresholds values without changing thetrackpad or touch screen display hardware. Additionally, in someimplementations a user of the device is provided with software settingsfor adjusting one or more of the set of intensity thresholds (e.g., byadjusting individual intensity thresholds and/or by adjusting aplurality of intensity thresholds at once with a system-level click“intensity” parameter).

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns and intensities. Thus, a gesture is, optionally, detected bydetecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a fingertap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detectinga finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially thesame position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of anicon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on thetouch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followedby detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequentlyfollowed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event.

Graphics module 132 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 112 or other display,including components for changing the visual impact (e.g., brightness,transparency, saturation, contrast or other visual property) of graphicsthat are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes anyobject that can be displayed to a user, including without limitationtext, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including softkeys), digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 132 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned acorresponding code. Graphics module 132 receives, from applicationsetc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with,if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and thengenerates screen image data to output to display controller 156.

Haptic feedback module 133 includes various software components forgenerating instructions used by tactile output generator(s) 167 toproduce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device 100 inresponse to user interactions with device 100.

Text input module 134, which is, optionally, a component of graphicsmodule 132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in variousapplications (e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, browser 147, andany other application that needs text input).

GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138 foruse in location-based dialing, to camera 143 as picture/video metadata,and to applications that provide location-based services such as weatherwidgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Applications 136 optionally include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact        list);    -   telephone module 138;    -   video conferencing module 139;    -   e-mail client module 140;    -   instant messaging (IM) module 141;    -   workout support module 142;    -   camera module 143 for still and/or video images;    -   image management module 144;    -   browser module 147;    -   calendar module 148;    -   widget modules 149, which optionally include one or more of:        weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget        149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and        other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created        widgets 149-6;    -   widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;    -   search module 151;    -   video and music player module 152, which is, optionally, made up        of a video player module and a music player module;    -   notes module 153;    -   map module 154; and/or    -   online video module 155.

Examples of other applications 136 that are, optionally, stored inmemory 102 include other word processing applications, other imageediting applications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, contactsmodule 137 are, optionally, used to manage an address book or contactlist (e.g., stored in application internal state 192 of contacts module137 in memory 102 or memory 370), including: adding name(s) to theaddress book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associatingtelephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or otherinformation with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizingand sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses toinitiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone 138, videoconference 139, e-mail 140, or IM 141; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, telephone module138 are, optionally, used to enter a sequence of characterscorresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephonenumbers in address book 137, modify a telephone number that has beenentered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation anddisconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As notedabove, the wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality ofcommunications standards, protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module132, text input module 134, contact list 137, and telephone module 138,videoconferencing module 139 includes executable instructions toinitiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user andone or more other participants in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, e-mail client module 140 includes executable instructions tocreate, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to userinstructions. In conjunction with image management module 144, e-mailclient module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mails withstill or video images taken with camera module 143.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the instant messaging module 141 includes executableinstructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to aninstant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit arespective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service(SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-basedinstant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-basedinstant messages), to receive instant messages and to view receivedinstant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or receivedinstant messages optionally include graphics, photos, audio files, videofiles and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or anEnhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging”refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMSor MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP,SIMPLE, or IMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, map module 154, and music player module 146,workout support module 142 includes executable instructions to createworkouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals);communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workoutsensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select andplay music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, opticalsensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130,graphics module 132, and image management module 144, camera module 143includes executable instructions to capture still images or video(including a video stream) and store them into memory 102, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 102.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and cameramodule 143, image management module 144 includes executable instructionsto arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete,present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/orvideo images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, browser module 147 includes executable instructions tobrowse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, includingsearching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portionsthereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, calendarmodule 148 includes executable instructions to create, display, modify,and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendarentries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, widget modules 149 aremini-applications that are, optionally, downloaded and used by a user(e.g., weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or createdby the user (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, awidget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS(Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In someembodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) fileand a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150 are,optionally, used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning auser-specified portion of a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134,search module 151 includes executable instructions to search for text,music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 102 that matchone or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified searchterms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, video and music playermodule 152 includes executable instructions that allow the user todownload and play back recorded music and other sound files stored inone or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executableinstructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., ontouch screen 112 or on an external, connected display via external port124). In some embodiments, device 100 optionally includes thefunctionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of AppleInc.).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, notes module153 includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to dolists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, map module 154 are,optionally, used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and dataassociated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and otherpoints of interest at or near a particular location; and otherlocation-based data) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140,and browser module 147, online video module 155 includes instructionsthat allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streamingand/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on anexternal, connected display via external port 124), send an e-mail witha link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videosin one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instantmessaging module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, is used tosend a link to a particular online video.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined orotherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 102 optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structuresidentified above. Furthermore, memory 102 optionally stores additionalmodules and data structures not described above.

In some embodiments, device 100 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device100, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons,dials, and the like) on device 100 is, optionally, reduced.

The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through atouch screen and/or a touchpad optionally include navigation betweenuser interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by theuser, navigates device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that is displayed on device 100. In such embodiments, a “menubutton” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, themenu button is a physical push button or other physical input controldevice instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 102 (in FIG. 1A) or 370 (FIG. 3) includes event sorter 170 (e.g.,in operating system 126) and a respective application 136-1 (e.g., anyof the aforementioned applications 137-151, 155, 380-390).

Event sorter 170 receives event information and determines theapplication 136-1 and application view 191 of application 136-1 to whichto deliver the event information. Event sorter 170 includes eventmonitor 171 and event dispatcher module 174. In some embodiments,application 136-1 includes application internal state 192, whichindicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch sensitivedisplay 112 when the application is active or executing. In someembodiments, device/global internal state 157 is used by event sorter170 to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, andapplication internal state 192 is used by event sorter 170 to determineapplication views 191 to which to deliver event information.

In some embodiments, application internal state 192 includes additionalinformation, such as one or more of: resume information to be used whenapplication 136-1 resumes execution, user interface state informationthat indicates information being displayed or that is ready for displayby application 136-1, a state queue for enabling the user to go back toa prior state or view of application 136-1, and a redo/undo queue ofprevious actions taken by the user.

Event monitor 171 receives event information from peripherals interface118. Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., auser touch on touch-sensitive display 112, as part of a multi-touchgesture). Peripherals interface 118 transmits information it receivesfrom I/O subsystem 106 or a sensor, such as proximity sensor 166,accelerometer(s) 168, and/or microphone 113 (through audio circuitry110). Information that peripherals interface 118 receives from I/Osubsystem 106 includes information from touch-sensitive display 112 or atouch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, event monitor 171 sends requests to the peripheralsinterface 118 at predetermined intervals. In response, peripheralsinterface 118 transmits event information. In other embodiments,peripheral interface 118 transmits event information only when there isa significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predeterminednoise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration).

In some embodiments, event sorter 170 also includes a hit viewdetermination module 172 and/or an active event recognizer determinationmodule 173.

Hit view determination module 172 provides software procedures fordetermining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more views,when touch sensitive display 112 displays more than one view. Views aremade up of controls and other elements that a user can see on thedisplay.

Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is aset of views, sometimes herein called application views or userinterface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-basedgestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) inwhich a touch is detected optionally correspond to programmatic levelswithin a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example,the lowest level view in which a touch is detected is, optionally,called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as properinputs are, optionally, determined based, at least in part, on the hitview of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture.

Hit view determination module 172 receives information related tosub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multipleviews organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module 172identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which shouldhandle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowestlevel view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (i.e., the firstsub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potentialevent). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determinationmodule, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related to thesame touch or input source for which it was identified as the hit view.

Active event recognizer determination module 173 determines which viewor views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence ofsub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determinationmodule 173 determines that only the hit view should receive a particularsequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizerdetermination module 173 determines that all views that include thephysical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, andtherefore determines that all actively involved views should receive aparticular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touchsub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with oneparticular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain asactively involved views.

Event dispatcher module 174 dispatches the event information to an eventrecognizer (e.g., event recognizer 180). In embodiments including activeevent recognizer determination module 173, event dispatcher module 174delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined byactive event recognizer determination module 173. In some embodiments,event dispatcher module 174 stores in an event queue the eventinformation, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver module182.

In some embodiments, operating system 126 includes event sorter 170.Alternatively, application 136-1 includes event sorter 170. In yet otherembodiments, event sorter 170 is a stand-alone module, or a part ofanother module stored in memory 102, such as contact/motion module 130.

In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes a plurality of eventhandlers 190 and one or more application views 191, each of whichincludes instructions for handling touch events that occur within arespective view of the application's user interface. Each applicationview 191 of the application 136-1 includes one or more event recognizers180. Typically, a respective application view 191 includes a pluralityof event recognizers 180. In other embodiments, one or more of eventrecognizers 180 are part of a separate module, such as a user interfacekit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application 136-1inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent handler 190 includes one or more of: data updater 176, objectupdater 177, GUI updater 178, and/or event data 179 received from eventsorter 170. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater176, object updater 177 or GUI updater 178 to update the applicationinternal state 192. Alternatively, one or more of the application views191 includes one or more respective event handlers 190. Also, in someembodiments, one or more of data updater 176, object updater 177, andGUI updater 178 are included in a respective application view 191.

A respective event recognizer 180 receives event information (e.g.,event data 179) from event sorter 170, and identifies an event from theevent information. Event recognizer 180 includes event receiver 182 andevent comparator 184. In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 alsoincludes at least a subset of: metadata 183, and event deliveryinstructions 188 (which optionally include sub-event deliveryinstructions).

Event receiver 182 receives event information from event sorter 170. Theevent information includes information about a sub-event, for example, atouch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the eventinformation also includes additional information, such as location ofthe sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch, the eventinformation optionally also includes speed and direction of thesub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the devicefrom one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to alandscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event informationincludes corresponding information about the current orientation (alsocalled device attitude) of the device.

Event comparator 184 compares the event information to predefined eventor sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines anevent or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event orsub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator 184 includes eventdefinitions 186. Event definitions 186 contain definitions of events(e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1(187-1), event 2 (187-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events inan event 187 include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touchmovement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, thedefinition for event 1 (187-1) is a double tap on a displayed object.The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) onthe displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first lift-off (touchend) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on thedisplayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second lift-off (touchend) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition forevent 2 (187-2) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, forexample, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for apredetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and lift-off of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments,the event also includes information for one or more associated eventhandlers 190.

In some embodiments, event definition 187 includes a definition of anevent for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, eventcomparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which user-interfaceobject is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an applicationview in which three user-interface objects are displayed ontouch-sensitive display 112, when a touch is detected on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine whichof the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch(sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respectiveevent handler 190, the event comparator uses the result of the hit testto determine which event handler 190 should be activated. For example,event comparator 184 selects an event handler associated with thesub-event and the object triggering the hit test.

In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event 187 alsoincludes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event informationuntil after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-eventsdoes or does not correspond to the event recognizer's event type.

When a respective event recognizer 180 determines that the series ofsub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions 186, therespective event recognizer 180 enters an event impossible, eventfailed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequentsub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other eventrecognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue totrack and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 includes metadata183 with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate howthe event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to activelyinvolved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includesconfigurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how eventrecognizers interact, or are enabled to interact, with one another. Insome embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags,and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varyinglevels in the view or programmatic hierarchy.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 activates eventhandler 190 associated with an event when one or more particularsub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent recognizer 180 delivers event information associated with theevent to event handler 190. Activating an event handler 190 is distinctfrom sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view.In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 throws a flag associated withthe recognized event, and event handler 190 associated with the flagcatches the flag and performs a predefined process.

In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 188 include sub-eventdelivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-eventwithout activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event deliveryinstructions deliver event information to event handlers associated withthe series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlersassociated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved viewsreceive the event information and perform a predetermined process.

In some embodiments, data updater 176 creates and updates data used inapplication 136-1. For example, data updater 176 updates the telephonenumber used in contacts module 137, or stores a video file used in videoplayer module 145. In some embodiments, object updater 177 creates andupdates objects used in application 136-1. For example, object updater177 creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of auser-interface object. GUI updater 178 updates the GUI. For example, GUIupdater 178 prepares display information and sends it to graphics module132 for display on a touch-sensitive display.

In some embodiments, event handler(s) 190 includes or has access to dataupdater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178. In someembodiments, data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178are included in a single module of a respective application 136-1 orapplication view 191. In other embodiments, they are included in two ormore software modules.

It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding eventhandling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies toother forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices 100 withinput-devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens. Forexample, mouse movement and mouse button presses, optionally coordinatedwith single or multiple keyboard presses or holds; contact movementssuch as taps, drags, scrolls, etc., on touch-pads; pen stylus inputs;movement of the device; oral instructions; detected eye movements;biometric inputs; and/or any combination thereof are optionally utilizedas inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to berecognized.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100 having a touchscreen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screenoptionally displays one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 200.In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user is enabledto select one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on thegraphics, for example, with one or more fingers 202 (not drawn to scalein the figure) or one or more styluses 203 (not drawn to scale in thefigure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurswhen the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In someembodiments, the gesture optionally includes one or more taps, one ormore swipes (from left to right, right to left, upward and/or downward)and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upwardand/or downward) that has made contact with device 100. In someimplementations or circumstances, inadvertent contact with a graphicdoes not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweepsover an application icon optionally does not select the correspondingapplication when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more physical buttons, suchas “home” or menu button 204. As described previously, menu button 204is, optionally, used to navigate to any application 136 in a set ofapplications that are, optionally executed on device 100. Alternatively,in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in aGUI displayed on touch screen 112.

In one embodiment, device 100 includes touch screen 112, menu button204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 208, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 210, head set jack 212, and docking/charging externalport 124. Push button 206 is, optionally, used to turn the power on/offon the device by depressing the button and holding the button in thedepressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device bydepressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device 100 also acceptsverbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions throughmicrophone 113. Device 100 also, optionally, includes one or morecontact intensity sensors 165 for detecting intensity of contacts ontouch screen 112 and/or one or more tactile output generators 167 forgenerating tactile outputs for a user of device 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with someembodiments. Device 300 need not be portable. In some embodiments,device 300 is a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer,a multimedia player device, a navigation device, an educational device(such as a child's learning toy), a gaming system, or a control device(e.g., a home or industrial controller). Device 300 typically includesone or more processing units (CPU's) 310, one or more network or othercommunications interfaces 360, memory 370, and one or more communicationbuses 320 for interconnecting these components. Communication buses 320optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) thatinterconnects and controls communications between system components.Device 300 includes input/output (I/O) interface 330 comprising display340, which is typically a touch screen display. I/O interface 330 alsooptionally includes a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device)350 and touchpad 355, tactile output generator 357 for generatingtactile outputs on device 300 (e.g., similar to tactile outputgenerator(s) 167 described above with reference to FIG. 1A), sensors 359(e.g., optical, acceleration, proximity, touch-sensitive, and/or contactintensity sensors similar to contact intensity sensor(s) 165 describedabove with reference to FIG. 1A). Memory 370 includes high-speed randomaccess memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solidstate memory devices; and optionally includes non-volatile memory, suchas one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storagedevices. Memory 370 optionally includes one or more storage devicesremotely located from CPU(s) 310. In some embodiments, memory 370 storesprograms, modules, and data structures analogous to the programs,modules, and data structures stored in memory 102 of portablemultifunction device 100 (FIG. 1A), or a subset thereof. Furthermore,memory 370 optionally stores additional programs, modules, and datastructures not present in memory 102 of portable multifunction device100. For example, memory 370 of device 300 optionally stores drawingmodule 380, presentation module 382, word processing module 384, websitecreation module 386, disk authoring module 388, and/or spreadsheetmodule 390, while memory 102 of portable multifunction device 100 (FIG.1A) optionally does not store these modules.

Each of the above identified elements in FIG. 3 are, optionally, storedin one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices. Each of theabove identified modules corresponds to a set of instructions forperforming a function described above. The above identified modules orprograms (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented asseparate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus varioussubsets of these modules are, optionally, combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 370optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identifiedabove. Furthermore, memory 370 optionally stores additional modules anddata structures not described above.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”)that is, optionally, implemented on portable multifunction device 100.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu ofapplications on portable multifunction device 100 in accordance withsome embodiments. Similar user interfaces are, optionally, implementedon device 300. In some embodiments, user interface 400 includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Signal strength indicator(s) 402 for wireless communication(s),        such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;    -   Time 404;    -   Bluetooth indicator 405;    -   Battery status indicator 406;    -   Tray 408 with icons for frequently used applications, such as:        -   Icon 416 for telephone module 138, labeled “Phone,” which            optionally includes an indicator 414 of the number of missed            calls or voicemail messages;        -   Icon 418 for e-mail client module 140, labeled “Mail,” which            optionally includes an indicator 410 of the number of unread            e-mails;        -   Icon 420 for browser module 147, labeled “Browser;” and        -   Icon 422 for video and music player module 152, also            referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module 152,            labeled “iPod;” and    -   Icons for other applications, such as:        -   Icon 424 for IM module 141, labeled “Text;”        -   Icon 426 for calendar module 148, labeled “Calendar;”        -   Icon 428 for image management module 144, labeled “Photos;”        -   Icon 430 for camera module 143, labeled “Camera;”        -   Icon 432 for online video module 155, labeled “Online Video”        -   Icon 434 for stocks widget 149-2, labeled “Stocks;”        -   Icon 436 for map module 154, labeled “Map;”        -   Icon 438 for weather widget 149-1, labeled “Weather;”        -   Icon 440 for alarm clock widget 149-4, labeled “Clock;”        -   Icon 442 for workout support module 142, labeled “Workout            Support;”        -   Icon 444 for notes module 153, labeled “Notes;” and        -   Icon 446 for a settings application or module, which            provides access to settings for device 100 and its various            applications 136.

It should be noted that the icon labels illustrated in FIG. 4A aremerely exemplary. For example, icon 422 for video and music playermodule 152 are labeled “Music” or “Music Player.” Other labels are,optionally, used for various application icons. In some embodiments, alabel for a respective application icon includes a name of anapplication corresponding to the respective application icon. In someembodiments, a label for a particular application icon is distinct froma name of an application corresponding to the particular applicationicon.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary user interface on a device (e.g.,device 300, FIG. 3) with a touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., a tabletor touchpad 355, FIG. 3) that is separate from the display 450 (e.g.,touch screen display 112). Device 300 also, optionally, includes one ormore contact intensity sensors (e.g., one or more of sensors 357) fordetecting intensity of contacts on touch-sensitive surface 451 and/orone or more tactile output generators 359 for generating tactile outputsfor a user of device 300.

Although some of the examples which follow will be given with referenceto inputs on touch screen display 112 (where the touch sensitive surfaceand the display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detectsinputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display,as shown in FIG. 4B. In some embodiments the touch sensitive surface(e.g., 451 in FIG. 4B) has a primary axis (e.g., 452 in FIG. 4B) thatcorresponds to a primary axis (e.g., 453 in FIG. 4B) on the display(e.g., 450). In accordance with these embodiments, the device detectscontacts (e.g., 460 and 462 in FIG. 4B) with the touch-sensitive surface451 at locations that correspond to respective locations on the display(e.g., in FIG. 4B, 460 corresponds to 468 and 462 corresponds to 470).In this way, user inputs (e.g., contacts 460 and 462, and movementsthereof) detected by the device on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,451 in FIG. 4B) are used by the device to manipulate the user interfaceon the display (e.g., 450 in FIG. 4B) of the multifunction device whenthe touch-sensitive surface is separate from the display. It should beunderstood that similar methods are, optionally, used for other userinterfaces described herein.

Additionally, while the following examples are given primarily withreference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts, finger tap gestures,finger swipe gestures), it should be understood that, in someembodiments, one or more of the finger inputs are replaced with inputfrom another input device (e.g., a mouse based input or stylus input).For example, a swipe gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click(e.g., instead of a contact) followed by movement of the cursor alongthe path of the swipe (e.g., instead of movement of the contact). Asanother example, a tap gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouseclick while the cursor is located over the location of the tap gesture(e.g., instead of detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detectthe contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneouslydetected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice are,optionally, used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts are,optionally, used simultaneously.

As used herein, the term “focus selector” refers to an input elementthat indicates a current part of a user interface with which a user isinteracting. In some implementations that include a cursor or otherlocation marker, the cursor acts as a “focus selector,” so that when aninput (e.g., a press input) is detected on a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touchpad 355 in FIG. 3 or touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 4B)while the cursor is over a particular user interface element (e.g., abutton, window, slider or other user interface element), the particularuser interface element is adjusted in accordance with the detectedinput. In some implementations that include a touch-screen display(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112 in FIG. 1A or touch screen 112in FIG. 4A) that enables direct interaction with user interface elementson the touch-screen display, a detected contact on the touch-screen actsas a “focus selector,” so that when an input (e.g., a press input by thecontact) is detected on the touch-screen display at a location of aparticular user interface element (e.g., a button, window, slider orother user interface element), the particular user interface element isadjusted in accordance with the detected input. In some implementationsfocus is moved from one region of a user interface to another region ofthe user interface without corresponding movement of a cursor ormovement of a contact on a touch-screen display (e.g., by using a tabkey or arrow keys to move focus from one button to another button); inthese implementations, the focus selector moves in accordance withmovement of focus between different regions of the user interface.Without regard to the specific form taken by the focus selector, thefocus selector is generally the user interface element (or contact on atouch-screen display) that is controlled by the user so as tocommunicate the user's intended interaction with the user interface(e.g., by indicating, to the device, the element of the user interfacewith which the user is intending to interact). For example, the locationof a focus selector (e.g., a cursor, a contact or a selection box) overa respective button while a press input is detected on thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touchpad or touch screen) will indicatethat the user is intending to activate the respective button (as opposedto other user interface elements shown on a display of the device).

The user interface figures described below include various intensitydiagrams that show the current intensity of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface relative to one or more intensity thresholds(e.g., a contact detection intensity threshold IT₀, a light pressintensity threshold IT_(L), a deep press intensity threshold IT_(D),and/or one or more other intensity thresholds). This intensity diagramis typically not part of the displayed user interface, but is providedto aid in the interpretation of the figures. In some embodiments, thelight press intensity threshold corresponds to an intensity at which thedevice will perform operations typically associated with clicking abutton of a physical mouse or a trackpad. In some embodiments, the deeppress intensity threshold corresponds to an intensity at which thedevice will perform operations that are different from operationstypically associated with clicking a button of a physical mouse or atrackpad. In some embodiments, when a contact is detected with anintensity below the light press intensity threshold (e.g., and above anominal contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ below which thecontact is no longer detected), the device will move a focus selector inaccordance with movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surfacewithout performing an operation associated with the light pressintensity threshold or the deep press intensity threshold. Generally,unless otherwise stated, these intensity thresholds are consistentbetween different sets of user interface figures.

An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity below thelight press intensity threshold IT_(L) to an intensity between the lightpress intensity threshold IT_(L) and the deep press intensity thresholdIT_(D) is sometimes referred to as a “light press” input. An increase ofintensity of the contact from an intensity below the deep pressintensity threshold IT_(D) to an intensity above the deep pressintensity threshold IT_(D) is sometimes referred to as a “deep press”input. An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity belowthe contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ to an intensity betweenthe contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ and the light pressintensity threshold IT_(L) is sometimes referred to as detecting thecontact on the touch-surface. A decrease of intensity of the contactfrom an intensity above the contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ toan intensity below the contact intensity threshold IT₀ is sometimesreferred to as detecting liftoff of the contact from the touch-surface.In some embodiments IT₀ is zero. In some embodiments IT₀ is greater thanzero. In some illustrations a shaded circle or oval is used to representintensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In someillustrations a circle or oval without shading is used represent arespective contact on the touch-sensitive surface without specifying theintensity of the respective contact.

In some embodiments described herein, one or more operations areperformed in response to detecting a gesture that includes a respectivepress input or in response to detecting the respective press inputperformed with a respective contact (or a plurality of contacts), wherethe respective press input is detected based at least in part ondetecting an increase in intensity of the contact (or plurality ofcontacts) above a press-input intensity threshold. In some embodiments,the respective operation is performed in response to detecting theincrease in intensity of the respective contact above the press-inputintensity threshold (e.g., a “down stroke” of the respective pressinput). In some embodiments, the press input includes an increase inintensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensitythreshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact belowthe press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation isperformed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensityof the respective contact below the press-input threshold (e.g., an “upstroke” of the respective press input).

In some embodiments, the device employs intensity hysteresis to avoidaccidental inputs sometimes termed “jitter,” where the device defines orselects a hysteresis intensity threshold with a predefined relationshipto the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., the hysteresis intensitythreshold is X intensity units lower than the press-input intensitythreshold or the hysteresis intensity threshold is 75%, 90% or somereasonable proportion of the press-input intensity threshold). Thus, insome embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity ofthe respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and asubsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresisintensity threshold that corresponds to the press-input intensitythreshold, and the respective operation is performed in response todetecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contactbelow the hysteresis intensity threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of therespective press input). Similarly, in some embodiments, the press inputis detected only when the device detects an increase in intensity of thecontact from an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity thresholdto an intensity at or above the press-input intensity threshold and,optionally, a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact to anintensity at or below the hysteresis intensity, and the respectiveoperation is performed in response to detecting the press input (e.g.,the increase in intensity of the contact or the decrease in intensity ofthe contact, depending on the circumstances).

For ease of explanation, the description of operations performed inresponse to a press input associated with a press-input intensitythreshold or in response to a gesture including the press input are,optionally, triggered in response to detecting either: an increase inintensity of a contact above the press-input intensity threshold, anincrease in intensity of a contact from an intensity below thehysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity above the press-inputintensity threshold, a decrease in intensity of the contact below thepress-input intensity threshold, and/or a decrease in intensity of thecontact below the hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to thepress-input intensity threshold. Additionally, in examples where anoperation is described as being performed in response to detecting adecrease in intensity of a contact below the press-input intensitythreshold, the operation is, optionally, performed in response todetecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below a hysteresisintensity threshold corresponding to, and lower than, the press-inputintensity threshold.

User Interfaces and Associated Processes Previewing and SelectingContent Items

Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that includevarious content fields and a multitude of content items. For example,photo album software allows a user to arrange and customize pictures tobe displayed or printed at a later time. In this example, customizingthe pictures optionally includes selecting between various pictures todisplay in a particular frame. Some methods of selecting between variouspictures require multiple sequential inputs performed with differentcontacts to navigate through pop-up or drop-down menus, which can take along time and be confusing to a user. There is a need to provide a fast,efficient, and convenient way for previewing and selecting content itemscorresponding to a content field that reduce or eliminate separate stepsor inputs or user interfaces that a user would otherwise navigatethrough to perform a content selection operation. The embodiments belowimprove on the existing methods by reducing the cognitive burden on auser and produce a more efficient human-machine interface.

FIGS. 5A-5N illustrate exemplary user interfaces for previewing andselecting content items corresponding to a content field in accordancewith some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used toillustrate the processes described below, including the processesdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 6A-6C. FIGS. 5A-5L includeintensity diagrams that show the current intensity of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface relative to a plurality of intensity thresholdsincluding a respective threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”). In some embodiments,operations similar to those described below with reference to IT_(L) areperformed with reference to a different intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(D)”).

FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate an example of previewing and selecting electronicmessages corresponding to a reading pane. FIGS. 5A-5F show userinterface 18002 including email application 18004 with reading pane18006 displayed on display 450 of a device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3).FIGS. 5A-5F also show contact 18010 on touch-sensitive surface 451 andintensity of contact 18010. In accordance with some embodiments, FIGS.5A-5F further illustrate a displayed representation of focus selector(e.g., cursor 18008). FIG. 5B shows intensity of contact 18010 aboveIT_(L) while cursor 18008 is over reading pane 18006. FIG. 5B also showscontent menu 18012 including multiple options that correspond toindividual emails. FIG. 5C shows movement of contact 18010 andcorresponding movement of cursor 18008 to a position over arepresentation of email 1 in content menu 18012. FIG. 5D shows cursor18008 over the representation of email 1 in content menu 18012 and email1 preview 18014 displayed in reading pane 18006. FIGS. 5D-5E showsintensity of contact 18010 increasing from an intensity below IT_(D) inFIG. 5D to an intensity above IT_(D) in FIG. 5E while cursor 18008 isover the representation of email 1 in content menu 18012. FIG. 5E alsoshows email 1 preview 18014 expanding in reading pane 18006. FIG. 5Fshows email 18016 in reading pane 18006. In some embodiments, the emailis inserted into reading pane 18006 when the intensity of contact 18010increases above IT_(D). In some embodiments, the email is inserted intoreading pane 18006 when, after the intensity of contact 18010 reached anintensity above IT_(D), the intensity of contact 18010 is reduced belowa hysteresis intensity threshold associated with (and below) IT_(D).

In some embodiments, the device is an electronic device with a separatedisplay (e.g., display 450) and a separate touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive surface 451). In some embodiments, the device isportable multifunction device 100, the display is touch-sensitivedisplay system 112, and the touch-sensitive surface includes contactintensity sensors 165 on the display (FIG. 1A). For convenience ofexplanation, the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 5A-5Fwill be discussed with reference to display 450 and a separatetouch-sensitive surface 451. However, analogous operations are,optionally, performed on a device with a touch-sensitive display system112 in response to detecting the contacts described in FIGS. 5A-5F onthe touch-sensitive display system 112 while displaying the userinterfaces shown in FIGS. 5A-5F on the touch-sensitive display system112; in such embodiments, the focus selector is, optionally: arespective contact, a representative point corresponding to a contact(e.g., a centroid of a respective contact or a point associated with arespective contact), or a centroid of two or more contacts detected onthe touch-sensitive display system 112, in place of cursor 18008.

FIGS. 5G-5N illustrate an example of previewing and selecting picturescorresponding to a picture frame. FIGS. 5G-5N show touch screen 112 onportable multifunction device 100. FIGS. 5G-5N further show pictureediting application 18020 including frame 18022 displayed on touchscreen 112. FIG. 5G shows contact 18024 with intensity below IT_(L)detected over frame 18022. FIGS. 5G-5H show an intensity of contact18024 increasing from an intensity below IT_(L) in FIG. 5G to anintensity above IT_(L) in FIG. 5H and content menu 18026 includingpicture representations 18028 being displayed in response to detectingthe increase in intensity of contact 18024. FIGS. 51-5J show movement ofcontact 18024 over picture representation 18028-2 in content menu 18026.FIG. 5J shows contact 18024 over picture representation 18028-2 andpicture 2 preview 18030 in frame 18022. FIGS. 5K-5L shows movement ofcontact 18024 over picture representation 18028-1 in content menu 18026.FIG. 5L shows contact 18024 over picture representation 18028-1 andpicture 1 preview 18032 in frame 18022. FIG. 5M shows liftoff of contact18024 (e.g., a decrease in intensity of contact 18024 from an intensityabove IT₀ to an intensity below IT₀) while over picture representation18028-1. FIG. 5M also shows picture 1 preview 18032 expanding in frame18022. FIG. 5N shows picture 18034 in frame 18022.

FIGS. 6A-6C are flow diagrams illustrating method 18100 of previewingand selecting content items corresponding to a content field inaccordance with some embodiments. Method 18100 is performed at anelectronic device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunctiondevice 100, FIG. 1A) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. Insome embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and thetouch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, thedisplay is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations inmethod 18100 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of someoperations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, method 18100 provides an intuitive way to previewand select content items corresponding to a content field in accordancewith some embodiments. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a userwhen navigating user interface hierarchies, thereby creating a moreefficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronicdevices, enabling a user to previewing and selecting content itemsfaster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the timebetween battery charges.

The device displays (18102) a content field (e.g., a frame for an imageor picture, a text box, or a field for entering a numerical value) onthe display. For example, the device in FIG. 5A displays reading pane18006 in email application 18004. As another example, the device in FIG.5G displays a frame 18022 in a picture editing application 18020.

The device detects (18104) a contact on the touch-sensitive surface,where the contact corresponds to a focus selector on the display. Forexample, the device in FIG. 5A detects contact 18010 on touch-sensitivesurface 451 corresponding to cursor 18008 on display 450. As anotherexample, the device in FIG. 5G detects a contact 18024 on touch screen112.

While continuously detecting (18106) the contact on the touch-sensitivesurface: the device detects (18108) a press input that includes anincrease in intensity of the contact above a respective intensitythreshold (e.g., IT_(L)) while the focus selector is over the contentfield. In some embodiments, the respective intensity threshold is anintensity threshold that is higher than an input-detection intensitythreshold at which the contact is initially detected. For example, inFIGS. 5A-5B the device detects the intensity of contact 18010 increasingabove IT_(L) while cursor 18008 is over reading pane 18006. As anotherexample, in FIGS. 5G-5H, the device detects the intensity of contact18024 increasing from an intensity below IT_(L) to an intensity aboveIT_(L).

In response to detecting the press input, the device displays (18110) acontent menu that includes representations of a plurality of optionsthat correspond to content items. For example, the device in FIG. 5Bdisplays content menu 18012 including a multitude of emailrepresentations. As another example, in FIG. 5H, the device displayscontent menu 18026 including a plurality of picture representations18028.

While displaying the content menu, the device detects (18112) movementof the contact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector over arepresentation of a first content item in the content menu. For example,the device in FIGS. 5C-5D detects movement of contact 18010 over therepresentation of email 1 in content menu 18012. As another example, inFIGS. 51-5L, the device detects movement of contact 18024 over picture 1representation 18028-1.

In response to the focus selector being over the representation of thefirst content item in the content menu, the device displays (18114) apreview (e.g., a transient preview) of the first content item in thecontent field. For example, FIG. 5D shows cursor 18008 over email 1representation in content menu 18012 and the device in FIG. 5D displaysemail 1 preview 18014 in reading pane 18006. As another example, in FIG.5L, the device displays picture 1 preview 18032 in frame 18022.

In some embodiments, while continuously detecting the contact, afterdetecting the first press input and before detecting movement of thecontact that corresponds to movement of the focus selector over therepresentation of the first content item in the content menu: the devicedetects (18116) movement of the contact that corresponds to movement ofthe focus selector over one or more other representations ofcorresponding other content items besides the first content item and, inresponse to detecting movement of the contact that corresponds tomovement of the focus selector over a representation of one of the othercontent items, the device displays a preview (e.g., a transient preview)of the corresponding other content item in the content field (e.g.,without permanently inserting the other content item in the contentfield). For example, portable multifunction device 100 in FIGS. 51-5Jdetects movement of contact 18024 over picture representation 18028-2 incontent menu 18026 and (in FIG. 5J) displays picture 2 preview 18030 inframe 18022 (in FIG. 5J). In accordance with these embodiments, portablemultifunction device 100 detects movement of contact 18024 over picturerepresentation 18028-2 in FIGS. 51-5J before detecting movement ofcontact 18024 over picture representation 18028-1 in FIGS. 5K-5L.

The device detects (18118) a confirmation input while the focus selectorassociated with the contact is over the representation of the firstcontent item in the content menu. For example, the device in FIGS. 5D-5Edetects an increase in intensity of contact 18010 from an intensitybelow IT_(D) in FIG. 5D to an intensity above IT_(D) in FIG. 5E whilecursor 18008 is over the email 1 representation in content menu 18012.As another example, in FIGS. 5L-5M, the device detects a liftoff ofcontact 18024 from touch screen 112.

In some embodiments, the press input, the movement of the contact, andthe confirmation input are performed (18120) with a single continuouscontact (e.g., as part of a single gesture). In accordance with theseembodiments, for example, the device in FIGS. 5A-5F detects an increasein intensity of contact 18010 above IT_(L) in FIG. 5B, movement ofcontact 18010 in FIG. 5C, and an increase in intensity of contact 18010above IT_(D) in FIG. 5E as part of a single, continuous contact (e.g., asingle gesture). As another example, contact 18024 is continuouslydetected throughout FIGS. 5G-5L.

In some embodiments, detecting the confirmation input includes (18122)detecting liftoff of the contact from the touch-sensitive surface. Forexample, portable multifunction device 100 in FIGS. 5L-5M detectsliftoff of contact 18024 and, in response, in FIG. 5N inserts picture18034 in frame 18022.

In some embodiments, detecting the confirmation input includes (18124)detecting an increase in intensity of the contact above an insertionintensity threshold (e.g., the respective intensity threshold or anintensity threshold above the respective intensity threshold) while thefocus selector is over the representation of the first content item inthe content menu. For example, the device in FIGS. 5D-5E detects anincrease in intensity of contact 18010 from an intensity below IT_(D) inFIG. 5D to an intensity above IT_(D) in FIG. 5E and, in response, inFIG. 5F inserts email 18016 in reading pane 18006.

In response to detecting the confirmation input, the device inserts(18126) the first content item into the content field. For example, thedevice in FIG. 5N inserts picture 18034 in frame 18022. As anotherexample, in FIG. 5F, the device inserts email 1 into reading pane 18006.In some implementations, inserting the first content item into thecontent field enables further operations to be performed on the firstcontent item, including at least one operation not available for usewith the corresponding preview. In some implementations, a preview istransient and either not operative or less fully operative compared withthe respective content item inserted in the content field. In someimplementations, inserting the first content item into the content fieldmeans non-transiently associating the first content item with thecontent field and displaying a representation of the first content itemin the content field. For example, in accordance with someimplementations, a photo application displays a preview of a photo onlywhen the focus selector is over a corresponding photo representation ina content menu. In this example, if no confirmation input is detected,then the photo preview does not continue when the focus selector stopsfocusing on the corresponding photo representation in the content menu(e.g., when a cursor or contact moves away from a region correspondingto a representation of the content such as a photo preview). Conversely,in this example, if a confirmation input is detected, then the photo isassociated with the photo application and will continue to display afterthe focus selector stops focusing on the corresponding photorepresentation in the content menu (e.g., when the cursor or contactmoves away from the region corresponding to the representation of thecontent such as a photo preview). Optionally, in this example,additional photo editing options are available to the user after aconfirmation input is detected.

In some embodiments, the content items are images and the content fieldis (18128) an image frame in an electronic document editing application.For example, in accordance with these embodiments, FIGS. 5G-5N showpicture editing application 18020 including frame 18022 and content menu18026 includes picture representations 18028. FIG. 5N further showspicture 18034 in frame 18022. In some embodiments, the content items areelectronic messages and the content field is (18130) a reading pane inan electronic message application. For example, in accordance with theseembodiments, FIGS. 5A-5F show email application 18004 including readingpane 18006 and content menu 18012 includes email representations. FIG.5F further shows email 18016 in reading pane 18006.

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 6A-6C have been described is merely exemplary and isnot intended to indicate that the described order is the only order inwhich the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments)are also applicable in an analogous manner to method 18100 describedabove with respect to FIGS. 6A-6C. For example, the contacts, gestures,intensity thresholds, focus selectors, content fields, content menus,and content items described above with reference to method 18100optionally have one or more of the characteristics of the contacts,gestures, intensity thresholds, focus selectors, content fields, contentmenus, and content items described herein with reference to othermethods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph ofthe Description of Embodiments). For brevity, these details are notrepeated here.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 7 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 18200 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 7 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 7, electronic device 18200 includes display unit 18202configured to display a content field, touch-sensitive surface unit18204 configured to receive user contacts, one or more sensor units18205 configured to detect intensity of contacts with thetouch-sensitive surface unit, and processing unit 18206 coupled todisplay unit 18202, touch-sensitive surface unit 18204, and sensor units18205. In some embodiments, processing unit 18206 includes detectingunit 18208, display enabling unit 18210, and inserting unit 18212.

Processing unit 18206 is configured to detect (e.g., with detecting unit18208) a contact on touch-sensitive surface unit 18204, where thecontact corresponds to a focus selector on the display unit, and whilecontinuously detecting the contact on touch-sensitive surface unit18204, detect (e.g., with detecting unit 18208) a press input thatincludes an increase in intensity of the contact above a respectiveintensity threshold while the focus selector is over the content field,and in response to detecting the press input, enable display of (e.g.,with display enabling unit 18210) a content menu that includesrepresentations of a plurality of options that correspond to contentitems. Processing unit 18206 is also configured, while continuouslydetecting the contact on touch-sensitive surface unit 18204, and whiledisplaying the content menu, to detect (e.g., with detecting unit 18208)movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focusselector over a representation of a first content item in the contentmenu, and, in response to the focus selector being over therepresentation of the first content item in the content menu, enabledisplay of (e.g., with display enabling unit 18210) a preview of thefirst content item in the content field. Processing unit 18206 isfurther configured to detect (e.g., with detecting unit 18208) aconfirmation input while the focus selector associated with the contactis over the representation of the first content item in the content menuand, in response to detecting the confirmation input, insert (e.g., withinserting unit 18212) the first content item into the content field.

In some embodiments, the press input, the movement of the contact, andthe confirmation input are performed with a single continuous contact.

In some embodiments, detecting (e.g., with detecting unit 18208) theconfirmation input includes detecting liftoff of the contact fromtouch-sensitive surface unit 18204.

In some embodiments, detecting (e.g., with detecting unit 18208) theconfirmation input includes detecting an increase in intensity of thecontact above an insertion intensity threshold while the focus selectoris over the representation of the first content item in the contentmenu.

In some embodiments, processing unit 18206 is further configured to,while continuously detecting the contact, after detecting (e.g., withdetecting unit 18208) the first press input and before detecting (e.g.,with detecting unit 18208) movement of the contact that corresponds tomovement of the focus selector over the representation of the firstcontent item in the content menu, detect (e.g., with detecting unit18208) movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of the focusselector over one or more other representations of corresponding othercontent items besides the first content item and, in response todetecting movement of the contact that corresponds to movement of thefocus selector over a representation of one of the other content items,enable display of (e.g., with display enabling unit 18210) a preview ofthe corresponding other content item in the content field.

In some embodiments, the content items are images and the content fieldis an image frame in an electronic document editing application.

In some embodiments, the content items are electronic messages and thecontent field is a reading pane in an electronic message application.

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally, implemented by running one or more functional modulesin information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors(e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 3) or applicationspecific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 6A-6C are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG. 7.For example, detection operations 18104, 18108, 18112, and 18118 andinserting operation 18126 are, optionally, implemented by event sorter170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor 171 inevent sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display 112, andevent dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information toapplication 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on thetouch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event,such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respectivepredefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of theevent or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls dataupdater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internalstate 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respectiveGUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application.Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in theart how other processes can be implemented based on the componentsdepicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Moving and Dropping a User Interface Object

Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that allow a userto move a user interface object, such as an icon. In some situations, auser moves a user interface object by selecting it (e.g., making aninput with a focus selector over the user interface object) and thenmaking a movement input. Some methods for moving a user interface objectmake the user move both the focus selector and the user interface objectto the target location, and then stop there, before the user can movethe focus selector to another user interface object. In the embodimentsdescribed below, an improved method for moving a user interface objectis achieved. When a user interface object is selected with a focusselector, and the focus selector is moved with a moving contact, theuser interface object moves along with the focus selector. At somelocation during the movement, if the intensity of the contact does notmeet certain intensity criteria (e.g., the contact intensity goes belowan intensity threshold), the user interface object is dropped at thelocation. If the intensity of the contact meets the intensity criteria,the focus selector and the user interface object continues movingtogether. Thus, the user can drag and drop a user interface object at adesired location and keep the focus selector moving (e.g., to anotheruser interface object) without stopping.

FIGS. 8A-8J illustrate exemplary user interfaces for moving and droppinga user interface object in accordance with some embodiments. The userinterfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processesdescribed below, including the processes in FIGS. 9A-9C. FIGS. 8A-8Jinclude intensity diagrams that show the current intensity of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface relative to a plurality ofintensity thresholds including a light press intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(L)”) and a maintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT₁”). In some embodiments, operations similar to those described belowwith reference to “IT_(L)” are performed with reference to a differentintensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). In some embodiments, the lightpress intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”) is the different from themaintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), as shown inFIGS. 8A-8J. However, in some embodiments, the light press intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”) is the same as the maintain-object-selectionintensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”).

In some embodiments, the device is an electronic device with a separatedisplay (e.g., display 450) and a separate touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive surface 451). In some embodiments, the device isportable multifunction device 100, the display is touch-sensitivedisplay system 112, and the touch-sensitive surface includes tactileoutput generators 167 on the display (FIG. 1A). For convenience ofexplanation, the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 8A-8J andFIGS. 9A-9C will be discussed with reference to display 450 and aseparate touch-sensitive surface 451, however analogous operations are,optionally, performed on a device with a touch-sensitive display system112 in response to detecting the contacts described in FIGS. 8A-8J onthe touch-sensitive display system 112 while displaying the userinterfaces shown in FIGS. 8A-8J on the touch-sensitive display system112; in such embodiments, the focus selector is, optionally: arespective contact, a representative point corresponding to a contact(e.g., a centroid of a respective contact or a point associated with arespective contact), or a centroid of two or more contacts detected onthe touch-sensitive display system 112, in place of cursor 18310.

FIG. 8A illustrates media (e.g., video, audio) player user interface18304 displayed on display 450 (e.g., display 340, touch screen 112) ofa device (e.g., device 300, 100). Media player user interface 18304 is,optionally, a user interface for a media player application (e.g., astandalone application, web-based application). User interface 18304includes slider 18306 with thumb 18308. Slider 18306 is, optionally, aplayback progress bar or a volume control.

Cursor 18310 is also displayed on display 450. Cursor 18310 is anexample of a focus selector. A user is, optionally, enabled to movecursor 18310 across display 450 by making a corresponding input ontouch-sensitive surface 451 or another input device (e.g., a mouse).

Cursor 18310 is, optionally, used to control movement of thumb 18308along slider 18306. In some embodiments, cursor 18310 is associated withcontrol of movement of thumb 18308 when cursor 18310 is positioned overthumb 18308 and a contact (e.g., contact 18312) is detected ontouch-sensitive surface 451 of the device and contact 18312 has anintensity above the light press intensity threshold. In response to thedetection of contact 18312 on touch-sensitive surface 451 while cursor18310 is located over thumb 18308, thumb 18308 is selected and ready tobe moved, as shown in FIG. 8B. Thumb 18308 is moved along slider 18306by moving contact 18312 on touch-sensitive surface 451, e.g., withmovement 18314, while thumb 18308 is selected, as shown in FIGS. 8B-8C.

Movement of thumb 18308 is constrained to be along a predefined pathdefined by slider 18306. The predefined path defined by slider 18306runs along the length axis of slider 18306. Thus, thumb 18308 is movedalong slider 18306 in accordance with the component of movement 18314that is parallel to the length axis of slider 18306. The component ofmovement 18314 that is perpendicular to the length axis of slider 18306moves cursor 18310 but does not affect the movement of thumb 18308. Forexample, if contact 18312 is moved diagonally, cursor 18310 would movediagonally in accordance with the diagonal movement of contact 18312,including away from thumb 18308, but thumb 18308 would continue to movealong the length axis of slider 18306 in accordance with the componentof the movement of contact 18312 that is parallel to the length axis ofslider 18306. While the examples described with reference to FIGS. 8A-8Jare described with reference to a user interface object (e.g., thumb18308) that is constrained to a predefined path (e.g., slider 18306), insome embodiments, analogous operations are performed with reference toan object (e.g., a shape in a drawing program, an icon on a desktop orthe like) that is not constrained to a predefined path.

In FIGS. 8A-8B, the device detects movement 18311 of contact 18312across the touch-sensitive surface 451 and, in response to detecting themovement, moves 18307 of cursor 18310 to a location over thumb 18308 ondisplay 450.

In FIGS. 8B-8C, while cursor 18310 is located over thumb 18308, thedevice detects an increase in intensity of contact 18312 from anintensity below the light press intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”) inFIG. 8B to an intensity above the light press intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(L)”) in FIG. 8C. In response to detecting the increase in intensityof contact 18312 shown in FIGS. 8B-8C, the device selects (or “picksup”) thumb 18308. In FIGS. 8C-8D, while thumb 18308 is selected, thedevice detects movement 18314 of contact 18312 to the right ontouch-sensitive surface 451, and in response to detecting the movement,moves 18316 cursor 18310 and thumb 18308 to the right along thepredefined path corresponding to slider 18306.

In FIGS. 8D-8E, the device continues to detect that the intensity ofcontact 18312 is maintained over the maintain-object-selection intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT₁”) and thus, in response to detecting movement18318 of contact 18312 further to the right on touch-sensitive surface451, the device continues to move 18320 cursor 18310 and thumb 18308 tothe right along the predefined path corresponding to slider 18306. InFIG. 8F, the device detects liftoff of contact 18312 fromtouch-sensitive surface 451 and thus does not move cursor 18310 or thumb18308, as contact 18312 is no longer detected on the touch-sensitivesurface.

Similarly, in FIGS. 8B and 8G, while cursor 18310 is located over thumb18308, the device detects an increase in intensity of contact 18312 froman intensity below the light press intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”)in FIG. 8B to an intensity above the light press intensity threshold(e.g., “IT_(L)”) in FIG. 8G. In response to detecting the increase inintensity of contact 18312 shown in FIGS. 8B and 8G, the device selects(or “picks up”) thumb 18308. In FIGS. 8G-8H, while thumb 18308 isselected, the device detects movement 18322 of contact 18312 to theright on touch-sensitive surface 451, and in response to detecting themovement, moves 18324 cursor 18310 and thumb 18308 to the right alongthe predefined path corresponding to slider 18306. Note that themovement of cursor 18310 and thumb 18308 in FIGS. 8G-8H is analogous tothe movement of cursor 18310 and thumb 18308 in FIGS. 8C-8D.

However, in FIGS. 8H-8I, the device detects a decrease in intensity ofcontact 18312 from an intensity above the maintain-object-selectionintensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”) in FIG. 8H to an intensity below themaintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), or anassociated hysteresis intensity threshold, in FIG. 8I. In response todetecting the decrease in intensity of contact 18312 shown in FIGS.8H-8I, the device deselects (or “drops”) thumb 18308.

Subsequently, in FIGS. 8I-8J, in response to detecting movement 18326 ofcontact 18312 further to the right on touch-sensitive surface 451, thedevice continues to move 18328 cursor 18310 to the right on display 450,however, because the device detected a decrease in intensity of contact18310 below the maintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT₁”) in FIGS. 8H-8I, the device does not move thumb 18308 along thepredefined path corresponding to slider 18306 (e.g., because the thumb18308 was “dropped”). Thus, in FIGS. 8G-8J, the user is able to deselecta selected user interface object without lifting contact 18312 off oftouch-sensitive surface 451, which improves the efficiency of the user'sinteraction with the device, by reducing the number of liftoffoperations that the user has to perform.

After the device has deselected (e.g., dropped) thumb 18308, as shown inFIGS. 8I-8J, the user is enabled to select a different user interfaceobject by moving cursor 18310 over the different user interface objectand increasing the intensity of contact 18312 over the light pressintensity threshold (optionally without lifting contact 18312 off oftouch-sensitive surface 451) while cursor 18310 is over the differentuser interface object.

FIGS. 9A-9C are flow diagrams illustrating a method 18400 of moving anddropping a user interface object in accordance with some embodiments.The method 18400 is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device 300,FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100, FIG. 1A) with a displayand a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is atouch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display.In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitivesurface. Some operations in method 18400 are, optionally, combinedand/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 18400 provides an intuitive way to moveand drop a user interface object. The method reduces the cognitiveburden on a user when moving and dropping a user interface object,thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. Forbattery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to move and drop auser interface object faster and more efficiently conserves power andincreases the time between battery charges.

The device detects (18402) a contact (e.g., a finger contact) with thetouch-sensitive surface, where the contact is associated with a focusselector (e.g., cursor 18310 or a contact on a touch screen) thatcontrols movement of a respective user interface object that iscurrently selected. The user interface object is, optionally, a thumb orhandle on a slider (e.g., thumb 18308) or a free-moving user interfaceobject. For example, in FIG. 8B, the device detects, on touch-sensitivesurface 451, contact 18312, which is associated with cursor 18310 thatcontrols movement of selected thumb 18308.

While continuously detecting (18404) the contact on the touch-sensitivesurface, the device detects (18406) first movement of the contact acrossthe touch-sensitive surface corresponding to movement of the focusselector toward a respective location (e.g., the respective location isa location where the user will attempt to “drop” the object). As shownin FIGS. 8C-8D, for example, the device detects movement 18314 ofcontact 18312 across touch-sensitive surface 451. Similarly, in FIGS.8G-8H, the device detects movement 18322 of contact 18312 acrosstouch-sensitive surface 451. Movement 18314 (or movement 18322)corresponds to movement of cursor 18310 toward a respective location(e.g., a target location for dropping thumb 18308) on display 450.

In response (18408) to detecting the first movement of the contactacross the touch-sensitive surface, the device moves (18410) the focusselector on the display in accordance with the first movement of thecontact and moves the respective user interface object in accordancewith the movement of the focus selector. The device also determines(18416) an intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface whilethe focus selector is at the respective location on the display. Forexample, in response to detecting movement 18314 of contact 18312, thedevice moves cursor 18310 with movement 18316 in accordance withmovement 18314 of contact 18312, and moves thumb 18308 in accordancewith the movement of the cursor, as shown in FIG. 8D. The device alsodetermines the intensity of contact 18312 while cursor 18310 is at thetarget location. In FIG. 8H, in response to detecting movement 18322 ofcontact 18312, the device moves cursor 18310 with movement 18324 inaccordance with movement 18322 of contact 18312, and moves thumb 18308in accordance with the movement of the cursor. The device alsodetermines the intensity of contact 18312 while cursor 18310 is at thetarget location.

In some embodiments, movement of the respective user interface object is(18412) constrained to a predefined path in the user interface, andmoving the respective user interface object in accordance with movementof the focus selector includes moving the respective user interfaceobject along the predefined path in accordance with a component ofmotion of the focus selector that corresponds to an allowed direction ofmotion along the predefined path (e.g., a thumb/handle in a scrubber orslider bar). For example, movement of thumb 18308 is constrained to thepath predefined by slider 18306, and thumb 18308 is moved in accordancewith the component of the movement of cursor 18310 that is parallel tothe path defined by slider 18306 (e.g., the horizontal component of themovement of cursor 18310, which is parallel to the length axis of slider18306, as depicted in FIGS. 8B-8C).

In some embodiments, the respective user interface object has (18414) atwo dimensional range of motion, and moving the respective userinterface object in accordance with movement of the focus selectorincludes moving the respective user interface object to a location at oradjacent to the focus selector on the display (e.g., the respective userinterface object is a document icon that can be moved laterally on thedisplay in a two dimensional plane and is not constrained to apredefined path such as a scrubber or a slider bar).

The device detects (18418) second movement of the contact across thetouch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of the focusselector away from the respective location. For example, in FIGS. 8D-8E,the device detects movement 18318 of contact 18312, which corresponds tomovement of cursor 18310 away from the target location. In FIGS. 8I-8J,the device detects movement 18326 of contact 18312, which corresponds tomovement of cursor 18310 away from the target location.

In response (18420) to detecting the second movement of the contactacross the touch-sensitive surface, in accordance with a determinationthat the contact meets respective intensity criteria, the device moves(18422) the focus selector and the user interface object in accordancewith the second movement of the contact across the touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., detecting an unsuccessful user interface object drop).For example, in FIGS. 8D-8E, in response to detecting movement 18318 ofcontact 18312 that meets the intensity criteria (e.g., because theintensity of contact 18312 is above IT₁), the device moves cursor 18310with movement 18318 and moves 18320 thumb 18308 in accordance withmovement of cursor 18310, as thumb 18308 is still selected. In someembodiments, the respective intensity criteria include a respectiveintensity threshold (e.g., IT₁ or IT_(L)), and the contact meets therespective intensity criteria when the intensity of the contact is abovethe respective intensity threshold (18424). For example, contact 18312meets the intensity criteria in FIG. 8D, because the intensity of thecontact is above the maintain-object-selection intensity threshold(e.g., “IT₁”).

In response (18420) to detecting the second movement of the contactacross the touch-sensitive surface, in accordance with a determinationthat the contact does not meet the respective intensity criteria, thedevice moves (18426) the focus selector in accordance with the secondmovement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface withoutmoving the user interface object (e.g., detecting a successful userinterface object drop). For example, in FIGS. 8I-8J, in response todetecting movement 18318 of contact 18312 that does not meet theintensity criteria (e.g., because the intensity of contact 18312 isbelow IT₁), the device moves cursor 18310 with movement 18328 inaccordance with movement 18318 but does not move thumb 18308, as thumb18308 is not selected. In some embodiments, the respective intensitycriteria include a maintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT₁”) such that when the contact has an intensity above themaintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), the objectremains selected. Conversely, when the contact has an intensity belowthe maintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), theobject is dropped and ceases to be selected.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity criteria include arespective intensity threshold, and the contact does not meet (18428)the respective intensity criteria when the intensity of the contact isbelow the respective intensity threshold (e.g., the contact isdetermined not to meet the respective intensity criteria when thecontact is below the IT₁ for any amount of time). For example, contact18312 does not meet the intensity criteria if the intensity of thecontact is below an intensity threshold (e.g., maintain-object-selectionintensity threshold IT₁). In some embodiments, the respective intensitycriteria include a respective intensity threshold, and the contact doesnot meet (18430) the respective intensity criteria when the intensity ofthe contact is below the respective intensity threshold for more than apredefined period of time (e.g., the contact is determined not to meetthe respective intensity criteria when the contact is below therespective intensity threshold for at least 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 seconds,or some other reasonable delay threshold). For example, contact 18312does not meet the intensity criteria if the intensity of the contact isbelow the maintain-object-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”)for at least the predefined period of time.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity criteria include arespective intensity threshold (18432). In some embodiments, therespective intensity threshold is (18434) a predefined intensitythreshold (e.g., the user interface object is “dropped” if/when theintensity of the contact drops below a pre-set intensity threshold). Insome embodiments, the respective intensity threshold is (18436) based ona percentage of a maximum intensity of the contact detected during thegesture. For example, the user interface object (e.g., thumb 18308) is“dropped” if/when the intensity of the contact (e.g., contact 18312)drops by 90% of a maximum intensity of the contact during the gesture.In some embodiments, the respective intensity threshold corresponds(18438) to an intensity measurement that is greater than a nominalintensity measurement (e.g., contact detection intensity threshold IT₀)that indicates that the contact (e.g., contact 18312) is in contact withthe touch-sensitive surface 451).

In some embodiments, when the one or more sensors used to detect contactintensity (e.g., “intensity sensors”) are capable of measuring 4 or morequantized values of intensity, where N is the lowest quantized value ofintensity (e.g., the value of intensity that corresponds to the presenceof a contact on the touch-sensitive surface), the respective intensitythreshold is at least one level above N. For example if there are 4quantized values of intensity and 1 is the lowest level, then therespective intensity threshold is 2 (or some other level greater than2). As another example, if there are 256 quantized values of intensityand 1 is the lowest level, then the respective intensity threshold is 2(or some other level greater than 2, such as 5, 10 or 15). For examplein FIG. 8A, the device can detect and differentiate between at least afirst intensity between IT₀ and IT₁, a second intensity between IT₁ andIT_(L), a third intensity between IT_(L) and IT_(D) and a fourthintensity above IT_(D).

In some embodiments, while moving the respective user interface objectin accordance with the second movement of the contact across thetouch-sensitive surface, the device detects (18440) a liftoff of thecontact from the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting theliftoff, the device ceases (18442) to move the respective user interfaceobject on the display in accordance with the second movement of thecontact (e.g., when the contact ceases to be detected, the device“drops” the respective user interface object, which results in movementof the respective user interface object across the display ceasing,either immediately or gradually). For example, in FIG. 8F, while thedevice is moving thumb 18308 in accordance with movement 18318 ofcontact 18312 (as shown in FIGS. 8C-8E), contact 18312 is lifted offtouch-sensitive surface 451, and in response to detecting the liftoff,the device stops moving thumb 18308.

As described, above, steps 18406 through 18438 are, optionally,performed while the contact is continuously detected on thetouch-sensitive surface. That continuously detected contact is,optionally, lifted off, and that liftoff is detected in step 18440. Inresponse to detection of that liftoff, the device ceases to move therespective user interface object on the display in accordance with thesecond movement of the contact. Thus, in some embodiments, the objectcan be dropped either by lifting a contact associated with the focusselector or by reducing the intensity of the contact associated with thefocus selector so that the contact does not meet the contact intensitycriteria.

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 9A-9C have been described is merely exemplary and isnot intended to indicate that the described order is the only order inwhich the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments)are also applicable in an analogous manner to method 18400 describedabove with respect to FIGS. 9A-9C. For example, the contacts, userinterface objects, intensity thresholds, and focus selectors describedabove with reference to method 18400 optionally has one or more of thecharacteristics of the contacts, user interface objects, intensitythresholds, and focus selectors described herein with reference to othermethods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph ofthe Description of Embodiments). For brevity, these details are notrepeated here.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 10 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 18500 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 10 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 10, an electronic device 18500 includes a display unit18502; a touch-sensitive surface unit 18504 configured to receivecontacts; one or more sensor units 18505 configured to detect intensityof contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit 18504; and aprocessing unit 18506 coupled to the display unit 18502, thetouch-sensitive surface unit 18504, and the sensor units 18505. In someembodiments, the processing unit 18506 includes a detecting unit 18508,a moving unit 18510, a determining unit 18512, and a ceasing unit 18514.

The processing unit 18506 is configured to: detect a contact with thetouch-sensitive surface unit 18504, wherein the contact is associatedwith a focus selector that controls movement of a respective userinterface object that is currently selected (e.g., with the detectingunit 18508); and while continuously detecting the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface unit 18504: detect first movement of the contactacross the touch-sensitive surface unit 18504 corresponding to movementof the focus selector toward a respective location (e.g., with thedetecting unit 18508); in response to detecting the first movement ofthe contact across the touch-sensitive surface unit 18504: move thefocus selector on the display unit 18502 in accordance with the firstmovement of the contact and move the respective user interface object inaccordance with the movement of the focus selector (e.g., with themoving unit 18510), and determine an intensity of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface unit 18504 while the focus selector is at therespective location on the display unit 18502 (e.g., with thedetermining unit 18512); detect second movement of the contact acrossthe touch-sensitive surface unit 18504 that corresponds to movement ofthe focus selector away from the respective location (e.g., with thedetecting unit 18508); and in response to detecting the second movementof the contact across the touch-sensitive surface unit 18504: inaccordance with a determination that the contact meets respectiveintensity criteria, move the focus selector and the user interfaceobject in accordance with the second movement of the contact across thetouch-sensitive surface unit 18504 (e.g., with the moving unit 18510);and in accordance with a determination that the contact does not meetthe respective intensity criteria, move the focus selector in accordancewith the second movement of the contact across the touch-sensitivesurface unit 18504 without moving the user interface object (e.g., withthe moving unit 18510).

In some embodiments, movement of the respective user interface object isconstrained to a predefined path in the user interface, and moving therespective user interface object in accordance with movement of thefocus selector includes moving the respective user interface objectalong the predefined path in accordance with a component of motion ofthe focus selector that corresponds to an allowed direction of motionalong the predefined path.

In some embodiments, the respective user interface object has a twodimensional range of motion; and moving the respective user interfaceobject in accordance with movement of the focus selector includes movingthe respective user interface object to a location at or adjacent to thefocus selector on the display unit 18502.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity criteria include arespective intensity threshold, and the contact meets the respectiveintensity criteria when the intensity of the contact is above therespective intensity threshold.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity criteria include arespective intensity threshold, and the contact does not meet therespective intensity criteria when the intensity of the contact is belowthe respective intensity threshold.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity criteria include arespective intensity threshold, and the contact does not meet therespective intensity criteria when the intensity of the contact is belowthe respective intensity threshold for more than a predefined period oftime.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity threshold is a predefinedintensity threshold.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity threshold is based on apercentage of a maximum intensity of the contact detected during thegesture.

In some embodiments, the respective intensity threshold corresponds toan intensity measurement that is greater than a nominal intensitymeasurement that indicates that the contact is in contact with thetouch-sensitive surface unit 18504.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 18506 is configured to: whilemoving the respective user interface object in accordance with thesecond movement of the contact across the touch-sensitive surface unit18504, detect a liftoff of the contact from the touch-sensitive surfaceunit 18504 (e.g., with the detecting unit 18508); and in response todetecting the liftoff, cease to move the respective user interfaceobject on the display unit 18502 in accordance with the second movementof the contact (e.g., with the ceasing unit 18514).

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules ininformation processing apparatus such as general purpose processors(e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 3) or applicationspecific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 9A-9C are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG.10. For example, detection operations 18402, 18406, and 18418, movingoperations 18410, 18422, and 18426, and determining operation 18416 are,optionally, implemented by event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, andevent handler 190. Event monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects acontact on touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective eventrecognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event information torespective event definitions 186, and determines whether a first contactat a first location on the touch-sensitive surface (or whether rotationof the device) corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such asselection of an object on a user interface, or rotation of the devicefrom one orientation to another. When a respective predefined event orsub-event is detected, event recognizer 180 activates an event handler190 associated with the detection of the event or sub-event. Eventhandler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater 176 or objectupdater 177 to update the application internal state 192. In someembodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respective GUI updater 178 toupdate what is displayed by the application. Similarly, it would beclear to a person having ordinary skill in the art how other processescan be implemented based on the components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Performing an Operation in Accordance with a Selected Mode of Operation

Many electronic devices have user interfaces in which multipleoperations are, optionally, performed with a same type of gesture. Whenthis gesture overloading happens within the same application, thedifferent operations are typically associated with different modes ofoperation. In some methods, a user can switch between modes of operationby selecting a different mode from a menu of options or making a secondcontact in addition to the gesture for activating the operation. Theembodiments described below improve on these methods. An operation isactivated by a sequence of inputs made with a continuous contact withthe touch-sensitive surface. The sequence of inputs includes increasingthe intensity of the contact and moving the contact after the intensityincrease. If the intensity of the contact is increased above a certainthreshold, the operation that is activated is based on a different modeof operation than if the intensity is not increased above the threshold.Thus, the user can switch modes of operation smoothly, without makingadditional inputs, such as going through a menu or making an additionalcontact.

FIGS. 11A-11W illustrate exemplary user interfaces for performing anoperation in accordance with a selected mode of operation in accordancewith some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used toillustrate the processes described below, including the processes inFIGS. 12A-12D. FIGS. 11A-11W include intensity diagrams that show thecurrent intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface relativeto a plurality of intensity thresholds including a mode-selectionintensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), a light press intensity threshold(e.g., “IT_(L)”), and an operation-cancellation threshold (e.g., “IT₁”).

In some embodiments, the device is an electronic device with a separatedisplay (e.g., display 450) and a separate touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive surface 451). In some embodiments, the device isportable multifunction device 100, the display is touch-sensitivedisplay system 112, and the touch-sensitive surface includes tactileoutput generators 167 on the display (FIG. 1A). For convenience ofexplanation, the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 11A-11Wand FIGS. 12A-12D will be discussed with reference to display 450 and aseparate touch-sensitive surface 451, however analogous operations are,optionally, performed on a device with a touch-sensitive display system112 in response to detecting the contacts described in FIGS. 11A-11W onthe touch-sensitive display system 112 while displaying the userinterfaces shown in FIGS. 11A-11W on the touch-sensitive display system112; in such embodiments, the focus selector is, optionally: arespective contact, a representative point corresponding to a contact(e.g., a centroid of a respective contact or a point associated with arespective contact), or a centroid of two or more contacts detected onthe touch-sensitive display system 112, in place of cursor 18605 orcursor 18622.

FIG. 11A illustrates user interface 18604 displayed on display 450(e.g., display 340, touch screen 112) of a device (e.g., device 300,device 100). In some embodiments, user interface 18604 is a userinterface for an application, such as a web browser, a word processingapplication, or an electronic document application. Document 18606 isdisplayed in user interface 18604. Document 18606 is, for example, a webpage, a word processing document, a text document, a spreadsheet, apresentation, or a drawing. A Document 18606 includes content, such astext 18608. Text 18608 optionally has more text than can be displayedall at once. For example, FIG. 11A shows portion 18608-a of text 18608displayed in document 18606. A text cursor 18605 is displayed on display450, text cursor 18605 is an example of a focus selector.

The application includes two or more modes of operation. Inputs to theapplication (e.g., contacts or gestures detected on touch-sensitivesurface 451 of the device) are, optionally, detected in accordance witha mode of operation of the application that is active at the time ofdetection.

Contact 18610 is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 at location18610-a. Contact 18610 is detected as having an intensity betweenthresholds IT₀ and IT_(L). While contact 18610 is stationary ontouch-sensitive surface 451, the intensity of contact 18610 is increasedto an intensity between a light press intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(L)”) and a mode-change intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), andthe intensity increase is detected, as shown in FIG. 11B. Then, contact18610, while its intensity is above an operation-cancellation intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT₁”) and below the mode-change intensity threshold(e.g., “IT_(D)”), moves 18612 from location 18610-a to location 18610-b(FIG. 11C). In response to detection of the movement of contact 18610,in accordance with the first mode of operation, document 18606 isscrolled, as shown in FIG. 11C, portion 18608-b of text 18608 isdisplayed in document 18606.

While contact 18610 continues to be detected on touch-sensitive surface451 the device detects a decrease in intensity of contact 18610 belowthe operation-cancellation intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), as shownin FIG. 11D and, in response, to detecting the decrease in intensity ofcontact 18610, the device stops scrolling the document in response tomovement of contact 18610. Thus, when contact 18610 continues to move18614 to location 18610-c (FIG. 11E), the document is not scrolled, asshown in FIG. 11E.

FIG. 11F illustrates user interface 18604, document 18606, and textportion 18608-a and text cursor 18605, displayed on display 450, as inFIG. 11A. Contact 18610 is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 atlocation 18610-a in FIG. 11F. Contact 18610 is stationary ontouch-sensitive surface 451 and has an intensity between thresholds IT₀and IT_(L) in FIG. 11F. The intensity of contact 18610 is increased toan intensity above the mode-change intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”),and the intensity increase is detected, as shown in FIG. 11G. Inaccordance with the increase in the intensity of contact 18610 above themode-change intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), inputs are detected ontouch-sensitive surface 451 in accordance with a second mode ofoperation that is different from the first mode of operation (e.g., thefirst mode of operation corresponds to document scrolling and the secondmode of operation corresponds to text selection). Thus, in the exampleshown in FIGS. 11F-11G, the increase in intensity of contact 18610 abovethe mode-change intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) changed the mode ofoperation to the second mode of operation.

Contact 18610, with the intensity above the mode-change intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), moves 18616 from location 18610-a (FIG. 11G)to location 18610-b (FIG. 11H). In response to detection of the movementof contact 18610, in accordance with the second mode of operation, textportion 18617-a of text 18608 is selected, as shown in FIG. 11G.Selected text 18617-a is, optionally, visually emphasized (e.g., withhighlighting, with an enclosure, etc.) to indicate its selection.

While contact 18610 continues to be detected on touch-sensitive surface451 the device detects a decrease in intensity of contact 18610 belowthe operation-cancellation intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), as shownin FIG. 11I and, in response, to detecting the decrease in intensity ofcontact 18610, the device continues to select text in the document inresponse to movement of contact 18610. Thus, when contact 18610continues to move 18618 to location 18610-c (FIG. 11J), the selection oftext continues in accordance with the movement of contact 18610 despitethe detection of the decrease in the intensity of contact 18610 in FIG.11I. For example, text selection 18617 expands to text portion 18617-bin accordance with the movement of contact 18610, as, as shown in FIG.11J.

In some embodiments, a focus selector (e.g., a text cursor 18605 or apointer) is displayed on display 450 over document 18606, and textselection in accordance with the second mode of operation (e.g., inresponse to detection of movement of contact 18610) starts from thelocation of the focus selector.

Thus, in some embodiments, for the same type of gesture, the mode ofoperation under which the contact or gesture is detected is differentdepending on whether the intensity of the contact is exceeded amode-detection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). If the intensity isnot increased above the mode-detection intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(D)”), an operation is performed in response to detection of thegesture in accordance with a first mode of operation. If the intensityis increased above the mode-detection intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(D)”), an operation is performed in response to detection of thegesture in accordance with a second mode of operation. In someembodiments, in the second mode of operation, the operation continuesdespite a decrease in the intensity of the input contact below anoperation-cancellation threshold (e.g., “IT₁”) as long as the inputcontact continues to be detected, whereas in the first mode ofoperation, the operation is stopped of the intensity decreases below theoperation-cancellation threshold (e.g., “IT₁”).

FIG. 11K illustrates user interface 18618 displayed on display 450 ofthe device. In some embodiments, user interface 18618 is a userinterface for an application, such as a drawing application or apresentation application. One or more objects 18620 are displayed inuser interface 18618. Objects 18620 are, for example, shapes in adrawing or objects (e.g., graphics, text blocks, etc.) in a presentationdocument. Objects 18620-1, 18620-2, and 18620-3 are displayed in userinterface 18618. A focus selector, such as cursor 18622, is alsodisplayed on display 450, at location in user interface 18618, that isaway from objects 18620 in FIG. 11K. In some embodiments, cursor 18622is a pointer. Inputs are detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 inaccordance with a first mode of operation (e.g., the first mode ofoperation corresponds to dragging and dropping an object and a secondmode of operation corresponds to multiple-object selection).

Contact 18624 is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 at location18624-a in FIG. 11K. Contact 18624 has an intensity between thresholdsIT₀ and IT_(L) in FIG. 11K. Movement 18626 of contact 18624 is detectedon touch-sensitive surface 18626. In response to detection of themovement 18626 of contact 18624, cursor 18622 moves in accordance withthe movement of contact 18624, as shown in FIG. 11L.

As cursor 18622 moves in accordance with the movement of contact 18624,cursor 18622 moves over object 18620-1 in FIG. 11L. While cursor 18622is over object 18620-1, the intensity of contact 18624 is increased toan intensity between a light press intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”)and a mode-change intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), as shown in FIG.11M. In response to detection of the increase in the intensity ofcontact 18624 in FIG. 11M, in accordance with the first mode ofoperation, object 18620-1 is selected and “picked up” by cursor 18622,and object 18620-1 moves along with cursor 18622 in accordance with themovement of contact 18624. For example, after the intensity increaseshown in FIG. 11M, as contact 18624 continues to move 18628 and 18630(e.g., from location 18624-b in FIG. 11M to location 18624-c in FIGS.11N-11O, then to location 18624-d in FIG. 11P), cursor 18622 moves inaccordance with the movement of contact 18624 (e.g. from location18622-b to location 18622-c, then to location 18622-d). In accordancewith movement of cursor 18622, object 18620-1 moves across display 450,as shown in FIGS. 11M-11N.

In some embodiments, a tactile output is generated when the intensity ofcontact 18624 is increased above the light press intensity threshold(e.g., “IT_(L)”), indicating that object 18620-1 has been selected andpicked up.

After object 18620-1 is selected and “picked up” in response to thedetection of the increase in the intensity of contact 18624 shown inFIG. 11M, the intensity of contact 18624 is, optionally, decreased. Forexample, while contact 18624 is at location 18624-c in FIGS. 11N-11O,the intensity of contact 18624 is decreased to an intensity betweenthreshold IT₀ and an operation-cancellation intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT₁”). In response to detection of the decrease in the intensity ofcontact 18624 in FIG. 11O, object 18620-1 is dropped and thus ceases tomove on display 450 even while contact 18624 continues, as shown in FIG.11P. Note that, in FIG. 11N, object 18620-1 is still selected eventhough the intensity of contact 18624 is below IT_(L), because theintensity of contact 18624 is still above IT₁.

In some embodiments, a tactile output is generated when the intensity ofcontact 18624 is decreased below the operation-cancellation intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT₁”), indicating that object 18620-1 has beendeselected and dropped.

FIG. 11Q illustrates user interface 18618 and objects 18620-1, 18620-2,and 18620-3 displayed on display 450 of the device, as in FIG. 11K.Objects 18620-1, 18620-2, and 18620-3 are displayed in user interface18618. Cursor 18622 is also displayed at location in user interface18618 that is away from objects 18620.

Contact 18624 is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 at location18624-a. Contact 18624 has an intensity between thresholds IT₀ andIT_(L). Movement 18632 of contact 18624 is detected on touch-sensitivesurface 451. In response to detection of the movement of contact 18624,cursor 18622 moves in accordance with the movement 18632 of contact18624 in FIGS. 11Q-11R.

As cursor 18622 moves in accordance with the movement of contact 18624,cursor 18622 moves over object 18620-1 in FIG. 11R. While cursor 18622is over object 18620-1, the intensity of contact 18624 is increased toan intensity above a mode-change intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”),as shown in FIG. 11S. In response to detection of the increase in theintensity of contact 18624 in FIG. 11S, in accordance with the secondmode of operation, object 18620-1 is selected. The increase in theintensity of contact 18624 changed the mode of operation to the secondmode. In contrast with the first mode of operation, object 18620-1 isnot picked up by cursor 18622; if cursor 18622 continues to move inaccordance with movement of contact 18624, object 18620-1 remains at itscurrent location in FIG. 11S.

In some embodiments, a tactile output is generated when the intensity ofcontact 18624 is increased above light press intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(L)”) on the way to being increased above the mode-change intensitythreshold (e.g., IT_(D)″), indicating that object 18620-1 has beenselected.

After object 18620-1 is selected, contact 18624 continues moving 18634in on touch-sensitive surface 451, to location 18624-c (FIG. 11T). Inaccordance with the movement of contact 18624, cursor 18622 moves overobject 18620-2. In accordance with cursor 18622 moving over object18620-2 and in accordance with the second mode of operation, object18620-2 is selected and the selection of object 18620-1 is maintained,so that objects 18620-1 and 18620-2 are selected as shown in FIG. 11T.

In some embodiments, a tactile output is generated when cursor 18622 ismoved over object 18620-2 while the intensity of contact 18624 is in thesecond mode of operation, indicating that object 18620-2 has beenselected while maintaining selection of object 18620-1.

After objects 18620-1 and 18620-2 are selected, the intensity of contact18624 is, optionally, decreased. For example, while contact 18624 is atlocation 18624-c, the intensity of contact 18624 is decreased to anintensity between threshold IT₀ an operation-cancellation intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT₁”). In response to detection of the decrease in theintensity of contact 18624 in FIG. 11U, the selection of objects 18620-1and 18620-2 is maintained, as shown in FIG. 11U.

In some embodiments, no tactile output is generated when the intensityof contact 18624 is decreased below the operation-cancellation intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT₁”) and the selection of objects 18620-1 and 18620-2is maintained. In some embodiments, the tactile output is not generatedwhether cursor 18622 is over or proximate to object 18620-1, or over orproximate to object 18620-2.

Contact 18624 moves 18636 from location 18624-c to location 18624-d ontouch-sensitive surface 451. In accordance with the movement of contact18624, cursor 18622 moves so that a selection area encompasses portionsof objects 18620-1, 18620-2 and 18620-3, as shown in FIG. 11V. Inaccordance with cursor 18622 moving over object 18620-3 and inaccordance with the second mode of operation, object 18620-3 is selectedand the selection of objects 18620-1 and 18620-2 is maintained, so thatobjects 18620-1, 18620-2, and 18620-3 are selected.

While objects 18620-1, 18620-2, and 18620-3 are selected, the intensityof contact 18624 is decreased below threshold IT₀, as shown in FIG. 11W.In some embodiments, decreasing the intensity of contact 18624 belowthreshold IT₀ corresponds to detecting a lift off of contact 18624 fromtouch-sensitive surface 451. In some embodiments, in response todetection of the decrease in the intensity of contact 18624, objects18620-1, 18620-2, and 18620-3 are de-selected, as shown in FIG. 11W. Insome embodiments, in response to detection of the decrease in theintensity of contact 18624, selection of objects 18620-1, 18620-2, and18620-3 is maintained.

While the examples described above illustrate the first operation andthe second operation as different operations, in some embodiments, thefirst operation and the second operation are the same type of operation.For example, some embodiments, the first operation and the secondoperation are both text highlighting operations, but when the device isin the first mode of operation (e.g., because the contact performing thegesture did not reach or exceed IT_(D)) the device would stophighlighting in FIGS. 11I-11J when the intensity of the contact wasreduced below the operation-cancellation intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT₁”); in contrast, when the device is in the second mode of operation(e.g., because the contact performing the gesture exceeded IT_(D), asshown in FIG. 11G) the device continues highlighting, as shown in FIGS.11I-11J even when the intensity of the contact is reduced below theoperation-cancellation intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”). Embodimentswhere the first and second operations are both document scrollingoperations, object selection operations, or object moving operationswould be performed in an analogous manner to the highlighting exampledescribed above.

FIGS. 12A-12D are flow diagrams illustrating a method 18700 ofperforming an operation in accordance with a selected mode of operationin accordance with some embodiments. The method 18700 is performed at anelectronic device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunctiondevice 100, FIG. 1A) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. Insome embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and thetouch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, thedisplay is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations inmethod 18700 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of someoperations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 18700 provides an intuitive way toperform an operation in accordance with a selected mode of operation.The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when performing anoperation in accordance with a selected mode of operation, therebycreating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operatedelectronic devices, enabling a user to perform an operation inaccordance with a selected mode of operation faster and more efficientlyconserves power and increases the time between battery charges.

The device displays (18702), on the display, a user interface for theelectronic device. For example, in FIG. 11A user interface 18604 isdisplayed, and in FIG. 11K user interface 18618 is displayed. Userinterface 18604 includes document 18606, and user interface 18618includes objects 18620.

The device detects (18704) a sequence of inputs on the touch-sensitivesurface, where detecting the sequence of inputs includes (18706)detecting changes in characteristics (e.g., position, speed, intensity,size, rotation) of a respective contact that is continuously detected onthe touch-sensitive surface during the sequence of inputs. In someembodiments, the sequence of inputs are made by a single finger contact.For example, FIGS. 11A-11E show a sequence of inputs involving contact18610. The sequence of inputs includes contact 18610, which iscontinuously detected on touch-sensitive surface 451, changing inintensity and changing position. Similar sequences of inputs are shownin FIGS. 11F-11J involving contact 18610, in FIGS. 11K-11P involvingcontact 18624, and in FIGS. 11Q-11W involving contact 18624.

The sequence of inputs includes (18708) a first input and a secondinput, the first input includes (18710) detecting an increase inintensity of the respective contact (e.g., a press input), and thesecond input includes (18714) detecting movement of the respectivecontact on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a drag input). Forexample, the sequence of inputs involving contact 18610, shown in FIGS.11A-11E, includes an increase in the intensity of contact 18610 (shownin FIGS. 11A-11B) and movement of contact 18610 (shown in FIGS.11B-11C). The respective sequences of inputs involving contact 18610(FIGS. 11F-11J), involving contact 18624 (FIGS. 11K-11P), and involvingcontact 18624 (FIGS. 11Q-11W) also include increases in contactintensity and contact movement. In some embodiments, the first input is(18712) a stationary press input. For example, in FIGS. 11A-11B, theintensity of contact 18610 is increased while contact 18610 isstationary.

In response (18716) to detecting the first input, in accordance with adetermination that the first input does not include increasing theintensity of the respective contact above a mode-selection intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), the device operates (18718) in a first modeof operation during the second input (e.g., operating in the first(e.g., primary) mode of operation until an input, such as a deep press,that indicates a transition to the second (e.g., alternate) mode ofoperation is detected), and in accordance with a determination that thefirst input includes increasing the intensity of the respective contactabove the mode-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), thedevice operates (18720) in a second mode of operation, distinct from thefirst mode of operation, during the second input (e.g., entering thesecond mode of operation while the contact is continuously detected).For example, in FIGS. 11A-11E, the intensity of contact 18610 isincreased, but not above a mode-selection intensity threshold (e.g.,“IT_(D)”). In accordance with the intensity of contact 18610 remainingbelow the mode-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), themovement of contact 18610 is detected in accordance with a first mode ofoperation (e.g., corresponding to document scrolling). In FIGS. 11F-11I,the intensity of contact 18610 is increased above the mode-selectionintensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). In accordance with the intensityof contact 18610 increasing above the mode-selection intensity threshold(e.g., “IT_(D)”), the movement of contact 18610 is detected inaccordance with a second mode of operation (e.g., corresponding to textselection).

As a further example, in FIGS. 11J-11P, the intensity of contact 18624is increased, but not above the mode-selection intensity threshold(e.g., “IT_(D)”). In accordance with the intensity of contact 18624remaining below the mode-selection intensity threshold, the movement ofcontact 18624 over objects 18620 is detected in accordance with a firstmode of operation (e.g., corresponding to dragging and dropping anobject). In FIGS. 11Q-11W, the intensity of contact 18624 is increasedabove the mode-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). Inaccordance with the intensity of contact 18624 increasing above themode-selection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), the movement ofcontact 18624 over objects 18620 is detected in accordance with a secondmode of operation (e.g., corresponding to multiple-object selection).

In some embodiments, the second mode of operation is (18722) acontact-intensity-independent mode of operation (e.g., a mode ofoperation where operations that would otherwise be determined based onan intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface are, instead,determined based on the presence/absence of a contact on thetouch-sensitive surface). For example, in FIGS. 11U-11V, objects 18620continue to be selected in response to cursor 18622 moving over themdespite the intensity of contact 18624 decreasing below what would befor example, an operation-cancellation intensity threshold in the firstmode of operation (e.g., “IT₁”). Selection is, optionally, cancelled(or, at least, no new object is selected whenever cursor 18622 is movedover the new object) when contact 18624 is lifted off touch-sensitivesurface 451 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 11W). As another example, in FIGS.11I-11J, portions of text 18608 continue to be selected in response tomovement of contact 18610 despite the intensity of contact 18610decreasing below the operation-cancellation intensity threshold in thefirst mode of operation (e.g., “IT₁”). In either of these examples,changing the intensity of the contact, other than lift the contact offtouch-sensitive surface 451, does not affect the operation.

In response to detecting the second input, the device performs (18724)an operation in accordance with the second input based at least in parton whether the device is operating in the first mode of operation or thesecond mode of operation. For example, in FIGS. 11B-11C, document 18606is scrolled, in accordance with a first mode of operation, in responseto detection of the movement of contact 18610, and in FIGS. 11G-11J,portions of text 18608 are selected, in accordance with a second mode ofoperation, in response to movement of contact 18610. As another example,in FIGS. 11M-11P, object 18620-1 is dragged and dropped, in accordancewith a first mode of operation, in response to movement of contact18624. In FIGS. 11S-11V, objects 18620-1 through 18620-3 are selected,in accordance with a second mode of operation, in response to movementof contact 18624.

In some embodiments, while (18726) in the first mode of operation, thedevice starts (18728) to perform a first operation corresponding to thesecond input, the device detects (18730) a decrease in intensity of thecontact below a respective intensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L), IT₁, or ahysteresis intensity threshold associated with IT_(L) that is belowIT_(L)), and in response to detecting the decrease in intensity of thecontact below the respective intensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L), IT₁, ora hysteresis intensity threshold associated with IT_(L) that is belowIT_(L)) while in the first mode of operation, the device ceases (18732)to perform the first operation (e.g., the device determines whether tocontinue moving an object or drop the object based on whether theintensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface drops below theoperation-cancellation intensity threshold IT₁ for the first mode ofoperation).

For example, in FIGS. 11B-11C, document 18606 is being scrolled inresponse to detection of the movement of contact 18610, where contact18610 has an intensity between thresholds IT₁ and IT_(D). While document18606 is being scrolled, the intensity of contact 18610 decreases belowa respective threshold (e.g., “IT₁”). In response to detection of thedecrease in the intensity of contact 18610 in FIG. 11D while the deviceis in the first mode of operation, document 18606 ceases to be scrolled,as shown in FIG. 11E, however, in some embodiments, if the device hadbeen in the second mode of operation, the device would have continued toscroll the document.

In another example, in FIGS. 11L-11N, object 18620-1 is selected, pickedup, and dragged in response to detection of a gesture including themovement of cursor 18622 over object 18620-1. While object 18620-1 isbeing dragged, the intensity of contact 18624 decreases below arespective threshold (e.g., threshold IT₁). In response to detection ofthe decrease in the intensity of contact 18624 in FIG. 11O while thedevice is in the first mode of operation, object 18620-1 is dropped inuser interface 18618 as shown in FIGS. 11O-11P, however in someembodiments, if the device had been in the second mode of operation, thedevice would have continued to drag object 18620-1.

In some embodiments, the device, while (18734) in the second mode ofoperation, the device starts (18736) to perform a second operationcorresponding to the second input, the device detects (18738) a decreasein intensity of the contact below the respective intensity threshold(e.g., IT_(L), IT₁, or a hysteresis intensity threshold associated withIT_(L)), and in response to detecting the decrease in intensity of thecontact below the respective intensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L), IT₁, ora hysteresis intensity threshold associated with IT_(L)) while in thesecond mode of operation, the device continues (18740) to perform thesecond operation (e.g., the device continues to move an object basedeven if intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface dropsbelow the operation-cancellation intensity threshold IT₁ for the firstmode of operation).

For example, in FIGS. 11G-11J, a portion of text 18608 is selected inresponse to detection of the gesture including movement of contact18610, and while additional text 18608 continues to be selected, theintensity of contact 18610 decreases below a respective threshold (e.g.,“IT₁”). In response to detection of the decrease in the intensity ofcontact 18610 in FIG. 11I while the device is in the second mode ofoperation, additional text 18608 continues to be selected in response tomovement 18618 of contact 18610 in FIGS. 11I-11J, however in someembodiments, if the device had been in the first mode of operation thedevice would have stopped selecting the text in response to detectingthe decrease in intensity of contact 18610 below IT₁ in FIG. 11I.

In another example, in FIGS. 11Q-11V, object 18620-1 is selected inresponse to detection of the movement of cursor 18622 over object18620-1, and while cursor 18622 continues moving in response to movementof contact 18624, the intensity of contact 18624 decreases below arespective threshold (e.g., “IT₁”). In response to detection of thedecrease in the intensity of contact 18624 in FIG. 11U while the deviceis in the second mode of operation, the device continues to selectadditional objects (e.g., objects 18620-2 and 18620-3) when cursor 18622is moved over them, however in some embodiments, if the device had beenin the first mode of operation the device would have stopped selectingthe objects in response to detecting the decrease in intensity ofcontact 18624 below IT₁ in FIG. 11U.

In some embodiments, in the first mode of operation, the second inputcorresponds to (18742) a first operation (e.g., dropping an object), andin the second mode of operation, the second input corresponds to asecond operation different from the first operation (e.g., continuing tomove the object). Thus, in some embodiments, the second input has adifferent meaning in the first mode of operation than it does in thesecond mode of operation. For example, in FIGS. 11K-11P, movement of acontact in the first mode of operation corresponds todragging-and-dropping an object (e.g., movement of contact 18624),however, in some embodiments, in the second mode of operation (e.g.,where contact 18624 exceeds IT_(D)), the device would continue to moveobject 18620-1 even after the intensity of contact 18624 decreased belowthe operation-cancellation intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), untilliftoff of contact 18624 is detected.

In some embodiments, the first operation includes (18744) scrolling anelectronic document, and the second operation includes selecting contentin the electronic document. For example, in FIGS. 11A-11J, movement of acontact in the first mode of operation corresponds to document scrolling(e.g., movement of contact 18610 in FIGS. 11A-11E), and movement of thecontact in the second mode of operation corresponds to content (e.g.,text) selection (e.g., movement of contact 18610 in FIGS. 11F-11J).

In some embodiments, the first operation includes (18746) moving a userinterface object in a user interface, and the second operation includesselecting a plurality of user interface objects in the user interface.For example, while in the first mode of operation, the device deselectsa currently selected user interface object upon detecting a decrease ofintensity of a contact below an object-deselection intensity threshold(e.g., “IT₁”). Conversely, while in the second mode of operation, thedevice maintains selection of the currently selected user interfaceobject even after detecting a decrease in intensity of the contact belowthe object-deselection intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”) until liftoffof the contact, another deep press gesture, or other predefined input isdetected that exits the second mode of operation. In FIGS. 11K-11W,movement of a contact in the first mode of operation corresponds tomoving (e.g., dragging-and-dropping) an object (e.g., movement ofcontact 18624 in FIGS. 11K-11Q), and movement of the contact in thesecond mode of operation corresponds to multiple-object selection (e.g.,movement of contact 18624 in FIGS. 11Q-11V).

In some embodiments, in response to detecting the first input, thedevice starts (18748) to perform a respective operation (e.g., “pick upand move” a user interface object), and in response to detecting thesecond input, the device continues to perform the respective operation(e.g., “continue to move” the previously picked up user interfaceobject). For example, in FIGS. 11K-11P, object 18620-1 is “picked up” inresponse to an increase in the intensity of contact 18624 abovethreshold IT_(L) while cursor 18622 is over object 18620-1, and object18620-1 is moved in response to movement 18628 of contact 18624 afterobject 18620-1 is picked up.

In some embodiments, the device detects (18750) an increase in intensityof the respective contact above a first intensity threshold (e.g., anobject-selection intensity threshold such as IT_(L)) while a focusselector corresponding to the contact is at or proximate to a respectiveuser interface object. In response to detecting the increase inintensity of the respective contact above the first intensity threshold(e.g., IT_(L) or IT_(D)), the device generates (18752) a tactile outputon the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to selection of therespective user interface object. After (18754) detecting the increasein intensity of the respective contact above the first intensitythreshold (e.g., IT_(L) or IT_(D)), the device detects (18756) adecrease in intensity of the respective contact below a second intensitythreshold (e.g., an object-drop intensity threshold such as IT₁) whilethe focus selector is at or proximate to the respective user interfaceobject. In response to detecting the decrease in intensity of therespective contact below the second intensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L),IT₁ or a hysteresis threshold associated with IT_(L) that is belowIT_(L)), in accordance with the determination that the device is in thefirst mode of operation, the device deselects (18758) the respectiveuser interface object and generates (18760) a tactile outputcorresponding to deselecting the respective user interface object; andin accordance with the determination that the device is in the secondmode of operation, the device maintains (18762) selection of therespective user interface object and forgoes generation of the tactileoutput corresponding to deselecting the respective user interfaceobject.

For example, in FIGS. 11K-11P, a tactile output is optionally generatedin response to the increase in the intensity of contact 18624 above afirst intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”) while cursor 18622 is overobject 18620-1 in FIG. 11M (indicating selection and pick-up of object18620-1), and a tactile output is optionally generated in response tothe decrease in the intensity of contact 18624 below a second intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT₁”) while cursor 18622 is over object 18620-1 inFIG. 11O (indicating de-selection and dropping of object 18620-1). InFIGS. 11Q-11W, a tactile output is optionally generated in response tothe increase in the intensity of contact 18624 above threshold IT_(L)while cursor 18622 is over object 18620-1 in FIG. 11S (indicatingselection of object 18620-1), and a tactile output is not generated inresponse to the decrease in the intensity of contact 18624 below secondintensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”) but remaining above threshold IT₀(e.g., because the device does not drop or de-select object 18620-1) inFIG. 11V.

Thus, in some embodiments, while the device is in the first mode ofoperation, the device generates tactile outputs so that the user feels aclick when increasing past an object-pickup intensity threshold and alsowhen decreasing past an object-drop intensity threshold (e.g., becauseobjects are being picked up and dropped). In contrast, while the deviceis in the second mode of operation, the device generates tactile outputsso that the user feels a click when increasing past an object-pickupintensity threshold, but does not feel a click when decreasing pastobject-drop intensity threshold (because objects are not being dropped).Thus, in some embodiments, the first mode of operation provides similartactile outputs to those that would be expected from a physicalactuator, while the second mode of operation provides tactile outputsthat correspond more closely to the operations being performed in theuser interface, even if additional tactile outputs that would have beengenerated by a physical actuator are not performed (e.g., the device hasthe ability to output multiple “down click” tactile outputs withoutoutputting a corresponding number of “up click” tactile outputs).

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations in FIGS. 12A-12D have been described is merely exemplary andis not intended to indicate that the described order is the only orderin which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in theart would recognize various ways to reorder the operations describedherein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processesdescribed herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g.,those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments)are also applicable in an analogous manner to method 18700 describedabove with respect to FIGS. 12A-12D. For example, the contacts, userinterface objects, tactile outputs, intensity thresholds, and focusselectors described above with reference to method 18700 optionally haveone or more of the characteristics of the contacts, user interfaceobjects, tactile outputs, intensity thresholds, and focus selectorsdescribed herein with reference to other methods described herein (e.g.,those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments).For brevity, these details are not repeated here.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 13 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 18800 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 13 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 13, an electronic device 18800 includes a display unit18802 configured to display a user interface for the electronic device,a touch-sensitive surface unit 18804 configured to receive inputs, oneor more sensors 18806 configured to detect intensity of contacts withthe touch-sensitive surface unit 18804, and a processing unit 18808coupled to the display unit 18802, the touch-sensitive surface unit18804, and the sensors 18806. In some embodiments, the processing unit18808 includes a detecting unit 18810, an operating unit 18812, aperforming unit 18814, a starting unit 18816, a ceasing unit 18818, acontinuing unit 18820, a generating unit 18822, a deselecting unit18824, and a maintaining unit 18826.

The processing unit 18808 is configured to: detect a sequence of inputson the touch-sensitive surface unit 18804 (e.g., with the detecting unit18810), wherein: detecting the sequence of inputs includes detectingchanges in characteristics of a respective contact that is continuouslydetected on the touch-sensitive surface unit 18804 during the sequenceof inputs, the sequence of inputs includes a first input and a secondinput, the first input includes detecting an increase in intensity ofthe respective contact, and the second input includes detecting movementof the respective contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit 18804; inresponse to detecting the first input: in accordance with adetermination that the first input does not include increasing theintensity of the respective contact above a mode-selection intensitythreshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), operate in a first mode of operation duringthe second input (e.g., with the operating unit 18812), and inaccordance with a determination that the first input includes increasingthe intensity of the respective contact above the mode-selectionintensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), operate in a second mode ofoperation, distinct from the first mode of operation, during the secondinput (e.g., with the operating unit 18812); and in response todetecting the second input, perform an operation in accordance with thesecond input based at least in part on whether the device is operatingin the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation (e.g.,with the performing unit 18814).

In some embodiments, the first input is a stationary press input.

In some embodiments, the second mode of operation is acontact-intensity-independent mode of operation.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 18808 is configured to, whilein the first mode of operation: start to perform a first operationcorresponding to the second input (e.g., with the starting unit 18816),detect (e.g., with the detecting unit 18810) a decrease in intensity ofthe contact below a respective intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), and inresponse to detecting the decrease in intensity of the contact below therespective intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”) while in the first mode ofoperation, cease to perform the first operation (e.g., with the ceasingunit 18818).

In some embodiments, the processing unit 18808 is configured to, whilein the second mode of operation: start to perform a second operationcorresponding to the second input (e.g., with the starting unit 18816),detect (e.g., with the detecting unit 18810) a decrease in intensity ofthe contact below the respective intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”), andin response to detecting the decrease in intensity of the contact belowthe respective intensity threshold (e.g., “IT₁”) while in the secondmode of operation, continue to perform the second operation (e.g., withthe continuing unit 18820).

In some embodiments, in the first mode of operation, the second inputcorresponds to a first operation, and in the second mode of operation,the second input corresponds to a second operation different from thefirst operation.

In some embodiments, the first operation includes scrolling anelectronic document, and the second operation includes selecting contentin the electronic document.

In some embodiments, the first operation includes moving a userinterface object in a user interface, and the second operation includesselecting a plurality of user interface objects in the user interface.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 18808 is configured to: inresponse to detecting the first input, start to perform a respectiveoperation (e.g., with the starting unit 18816), and in response todetecting the second input, continue to perform the respective operation(e.g., with the continuing unit 18820).

In some embodiments, the processing unit 18808 is configured to: detectan increase in intensity of the respective contact above a firstintensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L) or IT_(D)) while a focus selectorcorresponding to the contact is at or proximate to a respective userinterface object (e.g., with the detecting unit 18810); in response todetecting the increase in intensity of the respective contact above thefirst intensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L) or IT_(D)), generate a tactileoutput on the touch-sensitive surface unit 18804 that corresponds toselection of the respective user interface object (e.g., with thegenerating unit 18822); and after detecting the increase in intensity ofthe respective contact above the first intensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L)or IT_(D)): detect a decrease in intensity of the respective contactbelow a second intensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L), IT₁ or a hysteresisthreshold associated with IT_(L) that is below IT_(L)) while the focusselector is at or proximate to the respective user interface object(e.g., with the detecting unit 18810), and in response to detecting thedecrease in intensity of the respective contact below the secondintensity threshold (e.g., IT_(L), IT₁ or a hysteresis thresholdassociated with IT_(L) that is below IT_(L)): in accordance with thedetermination that the device is in the first mode of operation,deselect the respective user interface object (e.g., with thedeselecting unit 18824) and generating a tactile output corresponding todeselecting the respective user interface object (e.g., with thegenerating unit 18822), and in accordance with the determination thatthe device is in the second mode of operation, maintain selection of therespective user interface object (e.g., with the maintain unit 18826)and forgo generation of the tactile output corresponding to deselectingthe respective user interface object (e.g., with the generating unit18822).

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules ininformation processing apparatus such as general purpose processors(e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 3) or applicationspecific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 12A-12D are,optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG.13. For example, detection operation 18704, operating operations 18718and 18720, and performing operation 18724 are, optionally, implementedby event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Eventmonitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitivedisplay 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the eventinformation to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 ofapplication 136-1 compares the event information to respective eventdefinitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a firstlocation on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefinedevent or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface.When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, eventrecognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with thedetection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionallyutilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update theapplication internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by theapplication. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

It should be understood that the particular order in which theoperations have been described above is merely exemplary and is notintended to indicate that the described order is the only order in whichthe operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the artwould recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein.Additionally, it should be noted that the various processes separatelydescribed herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of theDescription of Embodiments) can be combined with each other in differentarrangements. For example, the contacts, user interface objects, tactilesensations, intensity thresholds, and/or focus selectors described abovewith reference to any one of the various processes separately describedherein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description ofEmbodiments) optionally have one or more of the characteristics of thecontacts, gestures, user interface objects, tactile sensations,intensity thresholds, and focus selectors described herein withreference to one or more of the other methods described herein (e.g.,those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments).For brevity, all of the various possible combinations are notspecifically enumerated here, but it should be understood that theclaims described above may be combined in any way that is not precludedby mutually exclusive claim features.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the various described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed.Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the aboveteachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the various described embodiments and theirpractical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art tobest utilize the various described embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: at an electronic devicethat includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one or moresensors to detect intensities of contacts with the touch-sensitivesurface: detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface, wherein thecontact corresponds to a respective region on the display; whilecontinuously detecting the contact on the touch-sensitive surface:detecting a press input that includes an increase in intensity of thecontact above a respective intensity threshold while the contactcorresponds to the respective region; in response to detecting the pressinput, displaying a content menu that includes representations of aplurality of options that correspond to content items; while displayingthe content menu: detecting movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface that corresponds to selection of a first contentitem in the content menu; in response to detecting the movement of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface, displaying a first preview ofthe first content item in the respective region; detecting furthermovement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface that correspondsto selection of a second content item in the content menu; and inresponse to detecting the further movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface, ceasing to display the first preview of thefirst content item in the respective region, and displaying a secondpreview of the second content item in the respective region; anddetecting a confirmation input while the second preview of the secondcontent item is displayed in the respective region; and in response todetecting the confirmation input, inserting the second content item intothe respective region.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting theconfirmation input includes detecting liftoff of the contact from thetouch-sensitive surface.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting theconfirmation input includes detecting an increase in intensity of thecontact above an insertion intensity threshold while the contactcorresponds to the representation of the second content item in thecontent menu.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the content items areimages; and the respective region is an image frame in an electronicdocument editing application.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: thecontent items are electronic messages; and the respective region is areading pane in an electronic message application.
 6. An electronicdevice, comprising: a display; a touch-sensitive surface; one or moresensors to detect intensities of contacts with the touch-sensitivesurface; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs,wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configuredto be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programsincluding instructions for: detecting a contact on the touch-sensitivesurface, wherein the contact corresponds to a respective region on thedisplay; while continuously detecting the contact on the touch-sensitivesurface: detecting a press input that includes an increase in intensityof the contact above a respective intensity threshold while the contactcorresponds to the respective region; in response to detecting the pressinput, displaying a content menu that includes representations of aplurality of options that correspond to content items; while displayingthe content menu detecting movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface that corresponds to selection of a first contentitem in the content menu; in response to detecting the movement of thecontact on the touch-sensitive surface, displaying a first preview ofthe first content item in the respective region; detecting furthermovement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface that correspondsto selection of a second content item in the content menu; and inresponse to detecting the further movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface, ceasing to display the first preview of thefirst content item in the respective region, and displaying a secondpreview of the second content item in the respective region; anddetecting a confirmation input while the second preview of the secondcontent item is displayed in the respective region; and in response todetecting the confirmation input, inserting the second content item intothe respective region.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein detecting theconfirmation input includes detecting liftoff of the contact from thetouch-sensitive surface.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein detecting theconfirmation input includes detecting an increase in intensity of thecontact above an insertion intensity threshold while the contactcorresponds to the representation of the second content item in thecontent menu.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein: the content items areimages; and the respective region is an image frame in an electronicdocument editing application.
 10. The device of claim 6, wherein: thecontent items are electronic messages; and the respective region is areading pane in an electronic message application.
 11. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the oneor more programs comprising instructions which, when executed by anelectronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and one ormore sensors to detect intensities of contacts with the touch-sensitivesurface, cause the electronic device to: detect a contact on thetouch-sensitive surface, wherein the contact corresponds to a respectiveregion on the display; while continuously detecting the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface: detect a press input that includes an increasein intensity of the contact above a respective intensity threshold whilethe contact corresponds to the respective region; in response todetecting the press input, display a content menu that includesrepresentations of a plurality of options that correspond to contentitems; while displaying the content menu: detect movement of the contacton the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to selection of a firstcontent item in the content menu; in response to detecting the movementof the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, display a first previewof the first content item in the respective region; detect furthermovement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface that correspondsto selection of a second content item in the content menu; and inresponse to detecting the further movement of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface, cease to display the first preview of the firstcontent item in the respective region, and display a second preview ofthe second content item in the respective region; and detect aconfirmation input while the second preview of the second content itemis displayed in the respective region; and in response to detecting theconfirmation input, insert the second content item into the respectiveregion.
 12. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein detecting theconfirmation input includes detecting liftoff of the contact from thetouch-sensitive surface.
 13. The storage medium of claim 11, whereindetecting the confirmation input includes detecting an increase inintensity of the contact above an insertion intensity threshold whilethe contact corresponds to the representation of the second content itemin the content menu.
 14. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein: thecontent items are images; and the respective region is an image frame inan electronic document editing application.
 15. The storage medium ofclaim 11, wherein: the content items are electronic messages; and therespective region is a reading pane in an electronic messageapplication.